Latest news with #PlataformaDecide
NBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Mozambique police fire on protestors with opposition leader's location unknown
Mozambican police fired on supporters of opposition leader Venancio Mondlane marching in the capital Maputo on Wednesday, injuring at least 10 people, Mondlane's team and a human rights researcher said. A police spokesperson confirmed that law enforcement had dispersed marchers but declined to elaborate. Mondlane's supporters had gathered hours before President Daniel Chapo signed an agreement with some political parties aimed at ending months of protests over Chapo's disputed election victory last year. Mondlane came second in the presidential vote but has been excluded from the talks leading up to the agreement, which is meant to include a review of the country's electoral laws. Analysts say Mondlane's exclusion means the agreement will likely do little to stabilise the resource-rich Southern African country. Mondlane's team said in a statement posted on Facebook that his whereabouts were not known after police broke up the march. It said 16 people had been injured. Mondlane did not answer a phone call from Reuters. In a separate video broadcast live from Mondlane's Facebook page, the opposition leader was seen standing in a car moving down a street surrounded by a crowd of people cheering and singing. The sound of gunshots rang out, after which people started running and the video abruptly cut off. Zenaida Machado, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the organisation had confirmed at least 10 people had been injured by police on Wednesday. She added that firing on a peaceful opposition gathering jeopardized efforts to bring stability to Mozambique. Political analyst Joao Feijo said the government's talks with other political parties were little more than theatre without Mondlane's involvement. 'The longer it takes to include Venancio, the worse the chances of stabilising the situation,' he said. Local civil society monitoring group Plataforma Decide says more than 350 people have been killed in the post-election demonstrations that started in late October. Mondlane told supporters on Wednesday that he would continue with his anti-government protests, for years if necessary. He says Chapo and his Frelimo party won the October election through vote-rigging, while Western observers say it was not free and fair.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Injuries as Mozambique police fire on opposition protest
At least a dozen people were injured after Mozambican police violently dispersed a protest led by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, the runner-up in last month's disputed presidential election, Mondlane's team and a civil society group say. Eyewitnesses and Mondlane's aides said the police fired live rounds at the opposition leader's convoy and the anti-government protesters who had joined him on the streets of the capital, Maputo, on Wednesday. Neither the police nor the authorities have commented. The protests came as President Daniel Chapo, who took office in January, was due to sign a deal after talks with other political parties to end months of protests over the disputed election. Mondlane, who has been calling for the protests, was excluded from the talks leading to the ceremony. A communique from Mondlane's office said the opposition leader had been leading a procession on Wednesday afternoon when his convoy came under fire. "A contingent of the UIR [a rapid intervention police unit] rammed into Venâncio Mondlane's convoy and began a barrage of gunfire, using live ammunition and tear gas," it added. In response to the incident, Interior Minister Paulo Chachine told reporters that the police had a mission to prevent any attempt to disrupt the deal-signing ceremony. He denied that there had been an attempt to kill Mondlane. Sixteen people were injured, according to local civil society group Plataforma Decide. The BBC has not been able to confirm the casualty figures. Mondlane's team said two children from a nearby school had died from the shooting. It said 16 people had been injured, including their camera person, with others seriously affected by tear gas. In a statement, it said Mondlane's condition was "unknown, and his whereabouts are causing concern among his entire team". A video shared on social media shows the moment when gunshots started ringing out as the procession approached what looks like an armoured vehicle on the streets. People run for safety and the crowds disappear, while the gunfire continues. More images of people bloodied from the incident have also been shared online. A witness, who was among the protesters, told the AFP news agency that police had started shooting, as if it was an "ambush scenario. It was just a march". "I saw some people bleeding from their wounds. My friend was wounded in the leg. I also saw a child who was shot and lost his life in hospital," AFP quoted 27-year old protester Silvestre Alexandre as saying. Mozambique's former colonial power, Portugal, has condemned "the unacceptable attack on Venâncio Mondlane's convoy" while calling for "restraint from violence and respect for fundamental rights". In a post on X, the Portuguese foreign affairs ministry has also offered condolences to the bereaved families. Since President Chapo took over in January, he has made promises for a broad political dialogue that would include various sectors of the society, in order to end the country's post-election crisis. Some analysts have however criticised him for excluding Mondlane from the talks. On Wednesday, Mondlane condemned the political deal, calling it "an agreement of people without the people". He said that protests would continue. "If they don't do what the people want, they won't govern Mozambique," he said. Since October, close to 400 people have died in violence linked to the protests, according to civil society organisations. Police chief accused of Mozambique abuses sacked by new president Mozambique at a crossroads as new president sworn in Children shot dead after joining pot-banging protests in Mozambique Why Africa's governing parties are having a tough time in elections Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Mozambique injuries as police fire on Venâncio Mondlane's convoy
At least a dozen people were injured after Mozambican police violently dispersed a protest led by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, the runner-up in last month's disputed presidential election, Mondlane's team and a civil society group say. Eyewitnesses and Mondlane's aides said the police fired live rounds at the opposition leader's convoy and the anti-government protesters who had joined him on the streets of the capital, Maputo, on the police nor the authorities have protests came as President Daniel Chapo, who took office in January, was due to sign a deal after talks with other political parties to end months of protests over the disputed election. Mondlane, who has been calling for the protests, was excluded from the talks leading to the ceremony.A communique from Mondlane's office said the opposition leader had been leading a procession on Wednesday afternoon when his convoy came under fire."A contingent of the UIR [a rapid intervention police unit] rammed into Venâncio Mondlane's convoy and began a barrage of gunfire, using live ammunition and tear gas," it response to the incident, Interior Minister Paulo Chachine told reporters that the police had a mission to prevent any attempt to disrupt the deal-signing denied that there had been an attempt to kill people were injured, according to local civil society group Plataforma Decide. The BBC has not been able to confirm the casualty team said two children from a nearby school had died from the shooting. It said 16 people had been injured, including their camera person, with others seriously affected by tear gas. In a statement, it said Mondlane's condition was "unknown, and his whereabouts are causing concern among his entire team".A video shared on social media shows the moment when gunshots started ringing out as the procession approached what looks like an armoured vehicle on the streets. People run for safety and the crowds disappear, while the gunfire images of people bloodied from the incident have also been shared online.A witness, who was among the protesters, told the AFP news agency that police had started shooting, as if it was an "ambush scenario. It was just a march"."I saw some people bleeding from their wounds. My friend was wounded in the leg. I also saw a child who was shot and lost his life in hospital," AFP quoted 27-year old protester Silvestre Alexandre as former colonial power, Portugal, has condemned "the unacceptable attack on Venâncio Mondlane's convoy" while calling for "restraint from violence and respect for fundamental rights".In a post on X, the Portuguese foreign affairs ministry has also offered condolences to the bereaved families. Since President Chapo took over in January, he has made promises for a broad political dialogue that would include various sectors of the society, in order to end the country's post-election analysts have however criticised him for excluding Mondlane from the Wednesday, Mondlane condemned the political deal, calling it "an agreement of people without the people". He said that protests would continue."If they don't do what the people want, they won't govern Mozambique," he October, close to 400 people have died in violence linked to the protests, according to civil society organisations. You may also be interested in: Police chief accused of Mozambique abuses sacked by new presidentMozambique at a crossroads as new president sworn inChildren shot dead after joining pot-banging protests in MozambiqueWhy Africa's governing parties are having a tough time in elections Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
