Mozambique: SADC must take strong stand against spiralling police killings and assault on peaceful assembly

Background:

Police brutality and the suppression of peaceful assembly have become increasingly common in Mozambique, with several high-profile cases in recent months.

In May 2023, police in the northern city of Nampula fired live rounds at unarmed protesters, killing five people and injuring dozens more.

In June 2023, police in the capital, Maputo, beat and detained dozens of opposition supporters who were protesting against the government's handling of the economy.

These incidents are just two examples of the escalating violence and intimidation against civil society activists and political opponents in Mozambique.

SADC's role:

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has a responsibility to promote democracy and human rights in the region.

As a regional body, SADC has a mandate to intervene in member states where there are serious violations of human rights.

In the case of Mozambique, SADC has repeatedly expressed concern about the government's use of excessive force against protesters and the suppression of dissent.

Call to action:

SADC must take a strong stand against the escalating police killings and assault on peaceful assembly in Mozambique.

The regional body should: - Condemn the government's use of excessive force in the strongest possible terms. - Demand that the government immediately end the suppression of peaceful assembly. - Call for an independent investigation into the killings and assaults. - Impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations.

SADC's intervention is essential to deter further violence and to ensure that the people of Mozambique are able to exercise their fundamental rights.

Conclusion:

The escalating police killings and assault on peaceful assembly in Mozambique is a serious threat to democracy and human rights in the region.

SADC has a responsibility to take a strong stand against these violations and to demand that the government of Mozambique respect the rights of its citizens.

The regional body's intervention is essential to deter further violence and to ensure that the people of Mozambique are able to exercise their fundamental rights.