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Mozambique: Journalist murdered in Cabo Delgado – AIM report
6:08 CAT | 23 Jan 2025
Image: Adriano Nuvunga/X
Journalist Arlindo Chissale has been murdered in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, according to his brother, Macário Chissale, cited on Thursday by the independent electronic daily, “Mozambique Times”.
The family confirmed Chissale’s death 15 days after his disappearance, which occurred on the night of 7 January 2025.
Macário said that the death of his brother, who worked for the portal Pinnacle News, which specialises in reporting on the war waged by Islamist terrorists in Cabo Delgado, was confirmed on Tuesday evening. The family claims that Chissale was tortured before being killed, and that the murder was committed by individuals wearing military uniforms.
“Last night, we confirmed the death of our brother,” said Macário Chissale. “We learned that he was tortured before being killed, and this heinous act was committed by people in military uniforms here in Cabo Delgado”.
But Chissale’s body has not been recovered, and the police have said nothing about his disappearance and his subsequent presumed murder, although the family filed a report with the police on 16 January.
Chissale had informed his family that he was planning to travel from his home in the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, Pemba, to Nacala, in the neighbouring province of Nampula, by bus. His last communication with his family was on the evening of 7 January, when he said he was at the Silva Macua crossroads, about 80 kilometres from Pemba.
READ: Arlindo Chissale was indeed murdered – Ikweli report | Mozambique
Chissale had been a member of Renamo but recently transferred his loyalty to PODEMOS, the party which had supported the presidential bid of Venâncio Mondlane, and is currently the largest opposition party in the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic.
There has been a wave of murders of Podemos militants. The party has claimed that 106 of its members were killed in the three months following the start of protests against the general election results, widely regarded as fraudulent.
READ: Mozambique Elections: Podemos says 106 of its supporters have been murdered
The most prominent Podemos members murdered were Mondlane’s lawyer, Elvino Dias, and election agent Paulo Guambe, gunned down in central Maputo on 19 October. Despite police promises of a thorough investigation, no suspects have been detained.
The murders of Podemos members have sent some members of the party into hiding. A newly elected Podemos parliamentary deputy, Dias Coutinho, told “Mozambique Times” that he has abandoned his home and is hiding elsewhere in Nampula city, fearing for his life.
He said he has avoided his home ever since he was announced as the Podemos candidate for governor of Nampula province. He says that threats and harassment began immediately after his candidacy was announced.
“So far, I can say that I sleep in a construction warehouse. I haven’t slept at home for a long time, and not even after being sworn in as a deputy do I feel safe,” he stated.
Arlindo Chissale encontrado sem vida depois de denúncias de ter sido visto pela última vez com a Polícia@adriano_nuvunga #HumanRights #SocialJustice #JusticeForAll #Mozambique pic.twitter.com/pclDtV6C7o
— CDD – Centro para Democracia e Direitos Humanos (@CDD_Moz) January 23, 2025
🚨 Urgent Update: Tragic Loss Confirmed 💔
It is with immense sorrow that we confirm the death of human rights journalist Arlindo Chissale. According to his family, Arlindo was targeted and killed by death squads—a devastating and tragic escalation in the attack on press freedom… pic.twitter.com/Tx1A9QHxo7
— Prof. Adriano Nuvunga (@adriano_nuvunga) January 23, 2025
Source: AIM
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