Civic space violations ahead of 9 October general elections

General

HRW report: widespread abuses against journalists, civil society activists ahead of October 2024 elections

In a report published on 11th September 2024, Human Rights Watch said that police committed widespread abuses against journalists and civil society activists ahead of the elections planned for 9th October 2024. The report, based on interviews with 32 people, including journalists and activists, said that abuses include the disruption of opposition party campaign meetings and other election- related activities, disrupting peaceful protests and the detention of journalists and activists. Additionally, formal complaints of harassment, threats, physical assault and arbitrary arrests are rarely investigated.

Association

Detention activist

On 9th February 2024, police officers in Nampula detained activist Jaoquim Pachoneia on accusations of inciting violence and insulting President Felipe Nyusi. According to Nampula police spokesperson Dércio Samuel, the activist, of the association Mentes Resilientes, Pachoneia was arrested because he “had been systematically producing videos, which he had been sharing on social media, specifically WhatsApp, inciting the Mozambican population, and in Nampula in particular, to act violently against state institutions”. The activist was released, reportedly after the intervention of the Mozambique Bar Association, on 12th February 2024 upon proof of identity and residence.

Expression

Assault, detention of journalists ahead of October 2024 elections

Several journalists were subjected to physical assaults, violence or threats while covering election-related events.

On 16th May 2024, about ten security guards threatened and assaulted STV journalist Jorge Marcos and camera operator Verson Paulo. The two were covering an event organised by opposition party RENAMO in central Zambézia province. The two media workers told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that police were present but failed to intervene.

On 5th May 2024, three private security guards interrupted a live broadcast on TV Sucesso from a school in Maputo, where the ruling party FRELIMO was holding a congress to elect its presidential candidate. TV Sucesso journalist Ernesto Martinho and camera operator Valdo Massingue were expelled from the school grounds. Security guards reportedly told Martinho that he was banned from covering the event, briefly confiscated the journalist’s microphone and threatened to ban all TV Sucesso journalists.

On 28th March 2024, journalist Atanázio Amade, who works for community radio station Ehale, was reportedly detained while covering the voter registration process in Nampula province. According to the reporter, who spoke with CPJ, was taken to a local police station where he was forced to delete footage of long queues of voters wanting to register, and was told he was “infringing the law and committing fraud because he was monitoring the electoral registration without special authorisation”.

Journalists detained, assaulted during protest

On 4th June 2024, police arbitrarily detained journalist and civil society activist Sheila Wilson while broadcasting live on the official Facebook page of Adriano Nuvunga, director of human rights organisation Centro para Democracia e Direitos Humanos (CDD; Center for Democracy and human Rights). Wilson, who also works for CDD’s communication and advocacy department, was reportedly covering a protest by former secret service agents alleging non-payment of pensions. According to Wilson, who spoke with Human Rights Watch, said officers grabbed her, threw her under the seat of a police van and took her to a police station. She was held incommunicado for over five hours and her phone was confiscated before police released her. Police did not provide a justification for the arbitrary detention of Sheila Wilson.

According to CPJ, the same day, two other journalists – STV reporter Laves Macatane and camera operator Hélder Matwassa – were subjected to physical attacks while interviewing the Maputo police spokesperson during the 4th June protests. Five unidentified men grabbed the arms of Macatane and Matwassa, immobilising them. Matwassa was pushed to the ground. The assailants stole their camera.

Peaceful Assembly

Protest former defence and state security forces dispersed

On 28th May 2024, hundreds of former officers of the Mozambique Defense Forces and State Security Services (SISE) gathered before United Nations (UN) offices in Maputo to demand compensation, including pensions, as promised in the 1992 General Peace Agreement, which marked the end of the civil war in 1992. Widows of former officers also joined ranks, demanding compensation for their deceased husbands.

On 4th June 2024, agents of the police’s Rapid Intervention Unit dispersed at least 200 people, who camped at the UN offices since 28 May 2024. Journalists were physically assaulted while covering the protest (see under Expression).

Protest against increased telecommunication rates and the removal of unlimited internet packages

On 18th May 2024, hundreds of people gathered in Maputo to protest the increase in communication fees, after operators implemented, since 4th May 2024, a resolution on new minimum tariffs in the telecommunication sector. The National Institute of Communications of Mozambique (INCM) had, on 19th February 2024, approved resolution No. 1_BR/CA/INCM/2024, increasing mobile phone rates and eliminating unlimited internet packages. Protesters, who called the measure as limiting access to information, demanded a repeal of the new tariffs and vowed to continue protesting until their demands were met, and to take the matter to court.

On 4th June 2024, after protests, mobilization by civil society and a petition, the government announced the suspension of resolution No. 1_BR/CA/INCM/2024.