Mozambique government reports 236 serious acts of violence, police station attacks, and 21 deaths

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Mozambique government reports 236 serious acts of violence, police station attacks, and 21 deaths

8:58 CAT | 25 Dec 2024

File photo: Luísa Nhantumbo/LUSA

Mozambican police recorded 236 “serious acts of violence” within 24 hours during protests against the election results, including attacks on police stations and prisons that resulted in 21 deaths, the Interior Minister announced today, ensuring the immediate reinforcement of security.

“No one can call or consider these criminal acts as peaceful demonstrations,” stated Minister Pascoal Ronda on Tuesday during a press conference in Maputo, amidst widespread chaos in the country, with barricades, looting, vandalism, and various attacks, a day after the announcement of the final results of the October 9 general elections.

The minister revealed that among these 236 occurrences in the past 24 hours “throughout the territory” were 25 vehicles set on fire, including two belonging to the Mozambique Police (PRM); 11 police subunits and one prison “attacked and vandalized, from which 86 inmates were freed”; four toll gates burned; three health units vandalized; a central medical warehouse burned and vandalized; and ten Frelimo party offices burned.

“These incidents resulted in 21 fatalities, including two members of the PRM, and 25 injuries, of which 13 are civilians and 12 are members of the PRM,” added Pascoal Ronda, reporting that 78 people were detained and that the police are investigating the intellectual and material authors of these crimes, describing the situation as “difficult” and “nefarious.”

“Given the severity of the recorded events, the Government of Mozambique decided to immediately reinforce security measures nationwide, and the Defense and Security Forces [FDS] will intensify their presence in strategic and critical points,” Pascoal Ronda further stated.

He also noted that “as the acts of violence unfold, groups of armed men, using both bladed weapons and firearms, have carried out attacks against police stations, prisons, and other critical infrastructure.”

“The modus operandi of these actions suggests the possibility that we are facing selective attacks carried out by a terrorist group associated with the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. In light of this situation, the FDS will intervene, as they cannot passively and indefinitely witness the growth of this movement, which tends to characterize itself as full urban terrorism,” added Pascoal Ronda.

On Monday afternoon, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council declared Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), as the winner of the presidential election with 65.17% of the votes, succeeding Filipe Nyusi. Frelimo also maintained its parliamentary majority in the October 9 general elections.

This announcement sparked chaos across the country, with demonstrators blocking streets, erecting barricades, burning tires, and looting or destroying various public and private establishments, including banks.

The capital, Maputo, experienced another day of chaos today, with major avenues blocked by protesters, tires burning, and barricades erected to contest the announcement of the results, involving the looting and destruction of several private and public establishments, including banks.

These demonstrations and strikes, which began on October 21—according to a previous report before Monday—had already resulted in at least 120 deaths. The protests have been led by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who refuses to recognize the results initially announced by the National Election Commission (CNE) and now proclaimed by the Constitutional Council, which attributes approximately 24% of the votes to him.

Among other consequences, the Interior Minister stated that essential services are being disrupted, with schools, courts, state administrative buildings, and businesses destroyed.

“The FDS must act firmly and within the limits of the law to restore normalcy in the affected areas, ensuring that those responsible for leading or participating in acts of destruction or aggression are identified, including their sponsors and promoters, and held accountable through legal mechanisms,” added Pascoal Ronda, who also made “a strong and urgent appeal for calm and serenity” in the face of the current “public disorder.”

“It is essential that all differences are resolved peacefully,” he emphasized.

Source: Lusa