Fatalities Reported Among Young Protesters in Mozambique’s Capital

In Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, which is experiencing a crisis, notably young mourners gathered at a cemetery to bid farewell to a 16-year-old friend. This friend was fatally shot during an opposition-organized protest, where participants banged pots and pans, demonstrating against the results of the previous month’s presidential election. Manuel Samuel, the victim’s uncle, informed the BBC that “Antonio was shot in the mouth, and the bullet went through the back of his head.” Mr. Samuel further stated, “We saw CCTV footage from nearby shops of police shooting at protesters.” The death of Antonio Juaqim underscores the unstable political environment in the southern African nation since Frelimo, the former liberation movement that has governed since independence 49 years ago, was declared the election winner. According to the electoral commission, Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s presidential candidate, secured 71% of the votes. His nearest competitor, Venâncio Mondlane, received 20%. Mondlane, an evangelical pastor who ran for president as an independent after separating from the primary opposition party Renamo, disputed the election results. He claimed the election was fraudulent. The electoral commission refuted these allegations. However, Mondlane, who departed the country due to concerns of arrest, has used social media to mobilize his supporters to demonstrate against the outcome. Nightly at 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT), individuals have been banging pots and pans inside their residences. This action follows Mondlane’s appeal to convey a clear message of opposition to the continuation of Frelimo’s 49-year governance. Mr. Samuel stated that the initial protest occurred on the evening of November 15, when a large number of individuals gathered in the streets, banging pots, pans, and bottles, or blowing whistles. He remarked, “It was as though a new Mozambique was being born.” Nevertheless, the night concluded tragically, with Antonio among those reportedly killed by police, according to Mr. Samuel. Subsequently, the majority of participants have conducted the protest from their homes, with the sounds of pots and pans being banged resonating throughout Maputo each night at 21:00. Four days following Antonio’s death, at his funeral held at São Francisco Xavier Cemetery, a friend read his mother’s eulogy, which stated: “You were so full of life and hope. Now you are a victim of a bullet.” Antonio’s friends, visibly emotional, placed flowers on his grave and then released colorful balloons above it, signifying his young age. Mr. Manuel informed the BBC, “At the morgue I counted six bodies of young children.” He further commented, “They are killing us and our future.” The advocacy organization Human Rights Watch reported that approximately 40 individuals, among them at least 10 children, have been killed by police during the demonstrations that followed the election. Bernadino Raphael, Mozambique’s police commander, conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families. However, he disclaimed responsibility for the fatalities, attributing blame to Mondlane’s supporters. In an interview with the BBC, he asserted, “They are using children as shields in front of them while they remain behind.” The commander further stated that police were often compelled to defend themselves against protesters who had engaged in violence, which involved the killing of six officers and the looting and burning of property and vehicles. He reported, “We recorded 103 injured people, 69 of whom were police officers.” Conversely, Albino Forquilha, who leads the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique and supported Mondlane’s presidential campaign, accused the police of employing excessive force to quell opposition. He told the BBC, “It feels as though they are being used to protect the ruling party.” Borges Nhamirre, an analyst at the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, noted that Mozambique had not previously experienced such a high number of casualties and property damage during protests. He indicated that Frelimo’s popularity had evidently declined, particularly among younger generations who are “looking for jobs, looking for vocational training, looking for a plot to build their house, looking for some money.” Mr. Nhamirre stated, “They don’t care about who brought independence. The independence they want is their financial independence.” Following the announcement of the results on October 24, Chapo maintained that he and Frelimo had achieved victory in a free and fair election, declaring: “We are an organised party that prepares its victories.” Since that time, he has maintained a low public presence, awaiting the courts’ decision regarding Mondlane’s petition to invalidate the election outcome. Seemingly to sustain pressure before the court’s decision, many of Mondlane’s supporters also responded to his call to observe a three-day mourning period for the deceased (until November 22) by stopping their vehicles and sounding horns at midday. Alito Momad, aged 20, was reportedly killed by police during the protests, similar to Antonio. On November 17, the BBC encountered some of Alito’s friends conducting a night vigil for him in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Maputo. Alito’s friends displayed a photograph of him, featuring what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the back of his head, beside a Mozambican flag laid on the floor next to lit candles. This served as another indication of how the election had resulted in the premature deaths of young individuals. Their friends and relatives are seeking justice during what is considered one of Mozambique’s most tumultuous periods since the introduction of multi-party democracy approximately 30 years ago. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. Follow updates on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.