Mozambique’s security forces have killed at least 10 children and injured dozens of others while suppressing weeks of protests following a disputed presidential election, Human Rights Watch reported on Monday. Hundreds of minors have also been detained, some for days, in what the rights group says is a violation of international law.
The southern African nation has been gripped by unrest since Daniel Chapo, the ruling party’s candidate, was declared the winner of the October 9 election amid allegations of fraud by the opposition and criticism from international observers, including the European Union.
Authorities have not released an official death toll, but international rights groups estimate that at least 30 people have been killed, while local Mozambican groups claim the figure is closer to 50. Security forces have reportedly fired live ammunition at protesters in the capital, Maputo, and other major cities, leading to widespread condemnation.
The protests erupted after the October 24 announcement of Chapo’s victory, which extends the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) party’s unbroken rule since independence in 1975. Opposition groups have accused Frelimo of rigging elections to stay in power, a claim that has been a recurring theme in Mozambique’s political landscape.
Tensions escalated further following the October 18 killing of two senior opposition figures in a late-night shooting that their party described as a political assassination. One of the victims was the lawyer of independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who lost to Chapo. Mondlane has since fled the country, citing threats to his life.
Human rights organizations have criticized the heavy-handed response by security forces. The Mozambique Bar Association recently reported securing the release of over 2,700 detainees, many of them teenagers.
The protests, which have forced schools and businesses to close, are the largest challenge to Frelimo’s dominance in decades. Despite the deployment of the army to restore order, unrest continues to paralyze parts of the country, as citizens demand accountability and electoral transparency.
International observers and rights groups are calling for an independent investigation into the killings and detentions, urging the Mozambican government to respect human rights and ensure justice for the victims.
