In early March, the UN Refugee Agency reported that over 100,000 people in Cabo Delgado Province had been displaced since February 2024, following a fresh wave of insurgent violence. The violence is part of an ongoing insurgency in Cabo Delgado, which began in 2017 and has seen militants target the state and civilians, although attacks were relatively limited in 2023. The attacks in February and early March were reported to have involved the beheading and abduction of civilians and the destruction of residential areas and community facilities, including schools, churches, and health centres. Ninety per cent of those displaced are women, people with disabilities and the elderly. According to analysts, both the attacks and the scale of the displacement highlight the weakness of security forces. 

Sources: United Nations (1), United Nations (2), Associated Press News, International Crisis Group, Instituto Marquês de Valle Flôr  

In March, the Mozambican Parliament ratified an extradition treaty with Rwanda that opposition law makers, human rights defenders and Rwandan refugees fear will be used by the Rwandan government to persecute critics of Rwandan president Paul Kagame. Critics of the treaty say that it is vulnerable to abuse by Kagame’s government, which is regularly accused of targeting opponents abroad, including in Mozambique, which hosts several thousand Rwandan refugees. In 2023 NGO Human Rights Watch reported that since 2021 at least three Rwandans residing in Mozambique had died or disappeared in suspicious circumstances, that two others had survived kidnappings and several more had received death threats from embassy officials. Legislators from both Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement expressed concerns that the treaty would enable further persecution, a concern that Mozambique’s bar association described as ‘legitimate.’ The Rwandan government denies engaging in transnational repression and Mozambique’s Minister for Justice said that the agreement was intended only to target criminals.     

Sources: Jeune Afrique, The Africa Report (1), The Africa Report (2), Human Rights Watch, Agência de Informação de Moçambique  

Elections for the 65 municipal governments across Mozambique took place on 11 October. According to the official results from the National Election Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições, CNE) the ruling FRELIMO party won control of 64 of the 65 municipal governments. The main opposition party Mozambican National Resistance (Resistência Nacional Moçambicana, RENAMO) did not win the majority of the votes in any municipality, losing control of 8 municipalities they previously held. RENAMO has alleged massive fraud and filed a number of appeals with district courts and most of those cases now rest in the hands of the Constitutional Council, which is the body in charge of deciding electoral litigation in last instance as well as validating the final results. Renamo also called on its supporters to join demonstrations against the electoral results in some municipalities, especially in the capital city, Maputo, where Renamo alleges to have won. Police have responded to some demonstrations with force, using tear gas, firing automatic weapons into the air, and arresting dozens of people. At least two people are reported to have been killed. Civil society groups have suggested that there is evidence that votes were changed to benefit FRELIMO in several municipalities. On 28 November the Constitutional Council certified the electoral results in almost all municipalities, but mandated new electoral processes in four municipalities. 

Sources: Nascer do SOL, Centro de Integridade Pública, Voice of America, Africa Confidential, Human Rights Watch, Institute for Security Studies, Publico

Note: This report was updated on 12 December 2023 to take note of the ruling of the Constitutional Council.

One of Mozambique’s most popular politically active musicians died at home from medical complications on 9 March. Edson da Luz, known professionally as Azagaia, frequently criticized the government in his lyrics, and had a wide following. Peaceful marches in his memory were held in several cities on 18 March. In Maputo, police prevented the marchers from continuing on a planned route that would have passed the presidential residence. They then dispersed the marchers using tear gas and rubber bullets. Police subsequently arrested seven of the marchers and were reported to have threatened others.

Sources: Amnesty International, Radio Renascença, Voice of America