Mozambique: The enigma of Arlindo Chissale’s disappearance continues. An end as that of Ibraimo Mbaruco ? – Carta

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Mozambique: The enigma of Arlindo Chissale’s disappearance continues. An end as that of Ibraimo Mbaruco ? – Carta

5:39 CAT | 23 Jan 2025

Image: Carta de Moçambique

The whereabouts of journalist, politician and social activist Arlindo Chissale, allegedly kidnapped on January 7 after leaving Pemba in Cabo Delgado province for Nacala in Nampula, remains a mystery.

Information shared so far by people close to the family indicates that Chissale was forced out of the vehicle in which he was traveling to Nacala-Porto by individuals who remain unidentified, but who are suspected of being agents of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique. On 16 January, after nine days of anguish, the family decided to report the case to the police.

Yesterday, for the second time in less than a week, social media was once again flooded with rumours about Arlindo Chissale’s death, the same information appearing on some media outlets. Chissale’s family told ‘Carta’ that they were unable to confirm this information, because in order to do so, they would have to be able to show where their loved one was buried.

“I cannot confirm whether my brother died or not, because in order to confirm it, I would have to show you the grave where he is buried. What I can confirm is that he is missing,” said Macário Chissale, Arlindo Chissale’s brother, in conversation with Carta.

READ: Arlindo Chissale was indeed murdered – Ikweli report | Mozambique

The source says that the family tried every way of obtaining information about the whereabouts of the owner of the Pinnacle News’ portal – one of the reliable sources on the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado – but without success. The family even claims that traditional doctors have been involved in the search.

The case of Arlindo Chissale recalls the disappearance of journalist Ibraimo Mbaruco, from Palma Community Radio, whose whereabouts have been unknown since April 7, 2020. At the time of his disappearance, Mbaruco told his colleagues that he was surrounded by soldiers, but the Armed Forces never confirmed this information. The judicial authorities have also failed to clarify the case, the Attorney General’s Office in fact closing it in August of last year due to lack of evidence.

The family says that Chissale, who was press advisor to former mayor of Nacala-Porto, Raul Novinte, had a habit of “going off the map”, but never took long to return home. They believe that his disappearance was politically motivated.

It should be noted that Chissale was a supporter of Venâncio Mondlane, the political face of the protests that characterized the country between October 2024 and this January. The politician has not yet spoken out about the case.

On October 25, 2022, Arlindo Chissale was arrested by the police in Balama district, Cabo Delgado province, after photographing public institution buildings in that district, an act interpreted as “obscure” by the local authorities.

In its indictment, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cabo Delgado said that Chissale was gathering information for the purpose of carrying out terrorist acts, an argument that was rejected by the Balama Judicial Court, which ordered his release. Chissale was held incommunicado for the entirety of his eleven-day confinement.

Mozambican journalist Arlindo Chissale is still missing, and the family now believes he is dead even though they haven’t seen his body. He was last seen with police officers on the way to a jail in Pemba city.
Let’s put pressure on authorities to investigate this enforced… https://t.co/L4p8i99DY8

— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) 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