MOZAMBIQUE IN TURMOIL: ABDUCTIONS, BRUTAL REPRESSION, AND A NATION IN REVOLT
Mozambique is facing a deepening crisis marked by political repression, violent crackdowns, and public outrage. Recent events have seen security forces accused of abductions, extrajudicial killings, and brutal torture, particularly targeting individuals linked to opposition movements and independent media. The arrest of Wilson Matias, accused of running an anonymous page exposing corruption, has sparked widespread condemnation, highlighting the government's growing intolerance toward dissent. Reports of torture and human rights abuses continue to emerge, while the government tightens its grip on information. The European Union's decision to block comments on its election observation mission’s page has further fueled concerns over the erosion of democratic freedoms in Mozambique. The nation stands at a crossroads, with repression escalating and resistance growing stronger.
Mocambique.TV 1. On January 29th, security forces allegedly abducted a Venâncio Mondlane supporter, who was taken to Manhiça district command. Residents then went to the district command, ready to confront the police. 2 persons were shot dead by Rapid Intervention Unit. In response, protesters blocked roads, went to the official residence of the Mayor of Manhiça and destroyed everything. On January 31st, in Matola, criminal investigation agents raided a residence and took a young man. In response, residents captured one of the agents and demanded a hostage exchange. After a few hours, the exchange was made.
***
2. The young man detained, accused of being responsible for the “Unay Cambuma” profile, is called Wilson Matias, 26 years old, born in Manica, who moved to Maputo in search of a university education. He is currently detained in the B.O. Maximum Security Prison, facing charges of defamation, slander, incitement to violence, attack against the State and other serious crimes. At the moment, authorities are recording the names of people who collaborated with him, providing information for publication on the page. The evidence suggests that Wilson was not located through advanced tracking, but rather through clues that he himself left. The page in question has undergone several name changes over time, with “Hora do Povo” being one of the best known. It was during this period that Wilson, without remaining anonymous, published an open letter addressed to Fred Jossias, signing at the end as: “Wilson Matias, the owner of the Hora do Povo page”. He allegedly forgot to delete most of the old posts from the time when the page was still called “Hora do Povo”, which ended up revealing clear evidence of his identity and connection with the content broadcast, culminating in the arrest that is gaining repercussions today on social media. Once again, Frelimo shows its true face-using state police as tools of terror. They arrested two innocent young men, accusing them of running an anonymous page exposing corruption and defending Mozambicans' rights.
***
3. In custody, one of the young men was brutally tortured, with staples piercing his private parts, leaving him unable to move. This is not justice-this is repression. In the Maputo Central Jail One month later: There are still no names of the victims of the massacre perpetrated by security forces. Here is the full publication in PDF document.
***
4. The Facebook page of the European Union Election Observation Mission Mozambique 2024 blocked comments. Is the European Union, the community that preaches most democracy in the world, afraid of freedom of expression, one of the pillars of democracy? Do they do this in Europe?
