Mozambique: NGO counts 388 deaths in protests since October

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Mozambique: NGO counts 388 deaths in protests since October

12:48 CAT | 09 Apr 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Lusa]

The electoral platform Decide reported today that at least 388 people were killed and more than 800 were shot in almost five-and-a-half months of post-election protests in Mozambique.

“From October 21 to March 31, around 388 deaths were recorded throughout the country. Of these, 90% were caused by gunshots using live ammunition and around 10% for various other reasons, such as being run over, being physically assaulted and inhaling tear gas,” reads a report from the Mozambican non-governmental organization (NGO) that monitors the electoral processes.

Mozambique has experienced violent social unrest since October 2024, with demonstrations and strikes called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the victory of Daniel Chapo in the October 9 elections.

Daniel Chapo and Venâncio Mondlane met in Maputo on March 23 of this year for the first time since the elections, and the following day the former presidential candidate called for an end to the violence. There have been no cases of social unrest associated with the election since then.

According to Decide, of the total number of deaths recorded, around 5% were minors, 2.4% women and 4.2%, agents of the Mozambique Defence and Security Forces (FDS).

During the same period, the NGO reports the registration of a further 3,500 injured, “for various reasons”, including 839 victims of gunshot wounds.

“Around 4,341 illegal detentions were recorded throughout the country, of which around 91% [of detainees] are now at liberty,” it states.

According to the NGO, five people have also disappeared and some cases of political persecution have been recorded, mainly involving members of the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos) party, which was previously an extra-parliamentary party and became the largest opposition party after the general elections of 9 October and its support for presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

“Since the end of November 2024, the Decide Platform has been receiving several requests for protection from various activists and members of opposition parties, with a greater emphasis on Podemos members, who have complained of intimidation and threats to their physical integrity,” the report states.

In addition to these “persecutions”, from the penultimate week of December until 21 March, at least 12 members of Mozambican political parties have been murdered, the NGO adds.

The Mozambican government confirmed at least 80 deaths in these protests, in addition to the destruction of 1,677 commercial establishments, 177 schools and 23 health units.

REPORT ON 5 MONTHS OF DEMONSTRATIONS IN MOZAMBIQUE-21 OCTOBER TO 31 MARCH

You can download the Portuguese and English versions at: https://t.co/zvvQNCnktU

#DecideYourFuture pic.twitter.com/qxqcjSMkDL

— Plataforma_decide (@PDecide23) April 8, 2025