Mozambique Elections: The day Fátima Mimbire wrote a letter to the military

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Mozambique Elections: The day Fátima Mimbire wrote a letter to the military

4:00 CAT | 13 Dec 2024

Fátima Mimbire: "I am afraid that, in fact, a very large part of the military will start to think that the government already loves, respects and considers them." [Photo: Nádia Issufo/DW]

Activist Fátima Mimbire believes that the payment of retroactive salaries to the military is a sign of preparation for declaring a State of Emergency. In an interview with DW, she also speaks of fears of the involvement of Rwandan soldiers in the crisis in the country.

The sudden decision by the Government of Mozambique to pay retroactive salaries to the military at a time of social upheaval has left society open-mouthed. Last week, the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, had doubts whether or not the simple payment of civil servant salaries would be possible, due to the long and violent protests against alleged electoral fraud in the country.

Fátima Mimbire says that this is an attempt to “buy good graces”. The activist suspects that the executive of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the ruling party, is counting on the armed forces to declare a possible State of Siege.

Regarding the possible collaboration of the soldiers, Mimbire fears that, with the payment, “they will start to think that the government already loves them” and will quickly forget the mistreatment to which they are subjected.

DW Africa: Does the payment of retroactive amounts of the Single Salary Scale (TSU) at this time of turmoil feel like buying the soldiers’ good graces?

Fátima Mimbire (FM): Yes, without a doubt. Soldiers have never been a group that the government has held in high regard in recent years. We have seen a very clear expression of dissatisfaction among the military regarding their working conditions, such as late payment of salaries and the case of the soldiers who went to Cabo Delgado without adequate means of work, food or uniforms, as well as essential conditions such as helmets and life jackets. Last week, the President of the Republic announced that he would not be able to pay public sector salaries. However, he has already paid the back pay, and in another ten days, at most, he will have to pay the salaries of the military and will also have to pay the 13th salary.

Military.dw_ — FILE – Military personnel and members of a fire brigade respond to protesters in Maputo city centre on November 7, 2024. Mozambican military personnel have been used to disperse protesters in the recent protests sweeping the country. [File photo: Amos Fernando/DW]

DW Africa: Would the strategy be to have “obedient” soldiers in the event of a state of emergency or siege?

FM: This is a very clear sign that the state is buying the sympathy and conscience of the military for a possible declaration of a State of Emergency or State of Siege, which, according to information I have, is imminent. The military would be the ones to take action during this period, because the police are completely discredited, and people no longer respect them.

DW Africa: Do you see any risk that the soldiers will allow themselves to be bought, given the precarious living conditions they are subjected to?

FM: Yes, and that is why I wrote that letter. It is a letter from a desperate citizen, because where do the soldiers fit in? If they allow themselves to be bought by these payments, there will indeed be a bloodbath. Military personnel are military personnel anywhere in the world and we know how the military reacts. Up until now they have acted well and have fulfilled their mission, which is to effectively control the situation and ensure that people are protected. Now I am afraid that, in fact, a very large part of the military will start to think that the government already loves, respects and considers them, and will forget the very recent history of mistreatment, disregard, persecution, detentions and arbitrary trials.

It should be noted that there are military personnel who are currently being tortured in some barracks in the city of Maputo, because they spoke out on social media or because they were involved in the Ressano Garcia case. I fear that there may be a fringe of military personnel who could eventually be mobilized to come and act in a way that is quite contrary to what the military has done up until now. The other option that scares me even more is the possibility that, if the Mozambican military does not agree to go along with this scheme, they will go and get the Rwandan military. The Rwandan military has absolutely nothing to lose, because they are not brothers or cousins of the Mozambicans.

Source: Deutsche Welle