In its report on the state of human rights in the world in 2023, released today, Amnesty International recalls that the terrorist group Al-Shabaab killed 17 civilians in Mozambique and that the Mozambican Armed Forces "and their allies committed abuses against civilians".

"The rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association were repressed. The police used live ammunition against members and supporters of the opposition during the electoral period, killing protesters and bystanders. Hundreds were arbitrarily detained", the report reads.

In addition, it states that the police "failed to protect people from kidnappings committed by criminals".

The organization recalls that the Mozambican Government created during this period the Interministerial Commission for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, but "significant human rights violations continued to occur", motivated in particular "by the conflict in Cabo Delgado province".

It also points out that "although Mozambique was responsible for only 0.02% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it was one of the countries most affected by climate change".

"Twelve people died and about 40,000 others were affected by the floods in Maputo province in February. In March, five children died and 20 houses were destroyed as a result of heavy rains in the city of Pemba", it recalls, stating that "the authorities did not provide timely humanitarian assistance to the victims", including those of Cyclone Freddy.

Regarding the consequences of the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, the report states that the armed group Al-Shabaab, the Mozambican Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) "committed war crimes against civilians".

"On July 24, a member of the FDS raped a 17-year-old girl in the Nangade district. Also in July, a member of SAMIM shot and wounded a man in Ingoane, Mucojo district. The authorities failed to open investigations into both cases", points out Amnesty International.

It states that the Mozambican security forces "subjected people, including protesters, to arbitrary detention", listing several cases that occurred in 2023, namely after the municipal elections on October 11 in 65 municipalities, whose results -- which attributed the victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power) -- were strongly contested in the streets by the opposition and civil society.

It recalls that on October 12, the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) "shot three people, one of whom died", in the Chiùre district, Cabo Delgado province.

In the context of these demonstrations, the report states that a minor, aged 14, "was shot dead while selling drinks on the street", in Nampula, in December at least one other was killed in the Marromeu district, and five other people were injured by "bullets fired by the police", and that "dozens suffered symptoms of tear gas inhalation", launched by PRM elements in these demonstrations, which occurred in several parts of the country.

It recalls that on March 18, the PRM "fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of people in the cities of Maputo and Beira", who "were participating in a peaceful gathering in tribute to the late rapper Edson da Luz [Azagaia]".

The report also states that in July, a Mozambican citizen "was found dead at the 3rd Police Station in Maputo, one day after being detained by the National Criminal Investigation Service".

"The police said he died of natural causes, but a local NGO suspected that he had died under torture", points out Amnesty International.

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