Mozambique: NGO criticises silence on “violent repression” of rapper marches

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Mozambique: NGO criticises silence on “violent repression” of rapper marches

8:08 CAT | 25 Apr 2023

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

The Mozambican organisation Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Monday criticised the authorities for still not releasing the “clarifications” that the President of the Republic promised about the “violent repression” of the marches in honour of ‘rapper’ Azagaia.

“Thirty days after Filipe Nyusi’s promise, there is still no clarification on the violent repression of the march on 18 March,” the CDD said in a statement.

The Ministry of the Interior, which was tasked with investigating the circumstances of the “brutal action of the police”, has not yet made a statement on the matter, the statement said.

For the non-governmental organisation (NGO), the silence on the issue follows a pattern of the Mozambican authorities, characterised by a “history of failure to keep promises by the government of Filipe Nyusi”.

READ: Mozambique: Four police, 10 civilians face charges after 18 March protest crackdown

The CDD recalled that five days after the events of 18 March, the President of the Republic reacted to the occurrences, through a speech in which he condemned police violence and criticised people whom he called “infiltrators” and “ill-intentioned people” among the demonstrators.

“In view of the events in the country’s capital, Maputo, we direct the Ministry of the Interior to proceed with an investigation into the reasons that led the police to adopt a posture of physical confrontation with young people. Also, to identify those who seek to take advantage of the individual virtue of the young ‘rapper’ Azagaia to achieve their aims,” the Mozambican Head of State said at the time.

The CDD noted that the police forces violated fundamental rights and the Constitution by attacking peaceful marchers in several cities in the country.

Last week, the Mozambican Attorney General (PGR), Beatriz Buchili, said in Parliament that four police officers and 10 civilians are the target of criminal proceedings, following the police repression of the demonstrations on 18 March.

“Regarding the events of March 18, 2023, they point to situations of violation of the law, which led to the establishment of criminal proceedings in order to clarify the facts and accountability of those involved,” said the PGR.

Lusa contacted the President’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior, who have yet to comment on the CDD’s criticisms.

Source: Lusa