Internationalist Solidarity with Mozambique

2 hours ago 15

We stand with the Mozambican people in their demand for electoral justice, the right to protest and the end of state violence.

Friends of the Earth International stands in solidarity with Justica Ambiental and all peoples of Mozambique exercising their right to protest and demanding electoral justice. We call for an immediate end to state violence and repression. We call for accountability for the murders, tortures and injuries of hundreds of Mozambicans. We demand an end to the restrictions on the freedom of movement, free speech and expression.

Mozambique’s youth-led uprising faces violent repressions after a fraudulent election.

On 9 October Mozambicans took part in an election which saw the Frelimo party, which has been in power for almost half a century, being officially declared winner by a landslide. However, opposition parties and observers, both from civil society and international observers, have reported several irregularities, including ballot stuffing and illegal exclusion of opposition monitors. Demonstrators have been taking to the streets across the whole country to voice their dissent, but in response are being met with a brutal crackdown from the police and the military, with at least 34 confirmed dead.

As the protests continue, the country has been paralyzed for the past 8 days, culminating in massive protests across the capital Maputo yesterday November 7th. Special police forces have aggressively repressed the protesters once again, to the point where heavily armed officers chased, fired at and detained people the entire day. As there is still no perspective of a way ahead to resolve the electoral tensions, protests are expected to continue.

Despite being a resource-rich country, 73% of Mozambicans live in poverty, exacerbated by IMF imposed neoliberal policies under Frelimo’s rule. The export of huge amounts of wealth from environmentally destructive mining, land use and fossil fuel projects has grabbed rural communities’ lands and deepened inequality, echoing patterns of neo-colonial exploitation across Africa to the benefit of wealthy transnational corporations working in collusion with the political elites in the country. This context fueled hopes for change in the recent election – mainly among the unemployed and marginalised urban youth – which many see as one of Mozambique’s most fraudulent.

On 19 October, two senior opposition figures were murdered, including the legal advisor of the main presidential candidate preparing to contest the election results. The situation in Mozambique is now getting worse by the day, with police using live ammunition on demonstrators and even “shooting to kill”, according to the Doctor’s Association, increasing militarisation of the capital Maputo and other cities, unlawful detentions and tortures at the police stations – mainly targeting the youth and children. However, the youth driven protests are spreading across social classes as citizens unite to say “ this country is ours”. Internationalist solidarity will make that movement even stronger.

Shifting Mozambique away from the neoliberalism paradigm

As an organization fighting for environmental, social, economic and gender justice, Friends of the Earth International joins JA!– Friends of the Earth Mozambique – in denouncing this situation as we call on others globally to strengthen internationalist solidarity and urge you to join us in our demands to all the relevant institutions, including sovereign bodies and other central bodies of the Mozambican State responsible for ensuring justice and peace:

To immediately withdraw police forces and call for an end to repression and violence. This includes state security forces and special police with live ammunition.
To commit to an inquiry into police killings of innocent people and bring the perpetrators to justice;
To respect the freedom of association, expression, protest and the right to resistance as per the Constitution of Mozambique, including by immediately putting an end to mobile internet restrictions;
To ensure that the peoples’ electoral will is respected, as this is an unquestionable condition for democracy and a peaceful and just way ahead.

Above all we join JA! in demanding that Mozambique shifts its socio-economic paradigm away from neoliberalism and towards a fair, just and inclusive path towards development, which should be translated into a better provision of public services and better opportunities for all Mozambicans, the respect of local, peasants and Indigenous Peoples right to self-determination, and environmental, social, economic and gender justice for all. Only then will a long and lasting peace finally be made possible.

Please join us and share this statement and do everything you can to increase visibility of state violence in Mozambique, including by contacting the Mozambican embassy and governments in your country to raise these concerns.