Mozambican Police: Tear Gas Deployed Against Anamola Rally

• Mozambican police fired tear gas at Anamola rally in Quelimane on Saturday.
• Police claim marchers ignored orders to disperse, threw stones, and broke a windscreen.
• Use of tear gas raises questions about excessive force and accountability within security services.
• Ben Saul, UN rapporteur, has highlighted extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and excessive force by Mozambican security services.
• Incident highlights need for lawyers to review public-order laws in Mozambique.

A show of strength by Mondlane, in a city the opposition already governs, was never going to be welcome that week.

On Saturday, Mozambican police fired tear gas at members and supporters of the Anamola party as they attempted to march through Quelimane after a rally marking the party's first anniversary. The marchers had gathered at the Sagrada Família football pitch and intended to walk through the city after the speeches. However, police deployed along the main avenues ensured that this did not happen.

The Zambezia police command later released a statement explaining their actions, claiming that Quelimane was in the middle of a ten-day carnival and that authorities had agreed with Anamola beforehand to hold only a static rally, not a march. When the rally ended and people tried to form a marching column, the police say they ignored orders to disperse, threw stones, and broke a police windscreen. The gas, lasting about five minutes, was allegedly deployed in response.

However, this account raises several questions. Under Mozambican law, a march can be restricted by civil authorities in writing, but not by the police on the day. The Zambezia command has shown no such order, and its version of events contradicts both weekend footage showing a crowd preparing to move off with no disorder before the gas and Anamola's account that it had notified the route.

The use of tear gas by police against the Anamola rally highlights the need for lawyers to review public-order laws in Mozambique. These laws give security forces significant powers, but they must be exercised within strict limits. The incident also raises questions about the accountability of security services in Mozambique. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and excessive force by the security services.

Ben Saul, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, has highlighted these issues during his visits to Mozambique. His latest statement, issued a day after the Anamola rally, listed these concerns as part of a broader critique of the country's security apparatus. The incident is also significant in light of an upcoming Frelimo conference, where the party will gather its cadres to discuss renewal and reform.

The use of tear gas against the Anamola rally was likely intended to send a message about the limits of opposition activity in Mozambique. However, it has instead raised questions about the need for greater accountability and transparency within the security services.

The Anamola rally incident highlights the importance of protecting individual rights during public order situations. The use of tear gas by police raises concerns about excessive force and the need for greater accountability within the security services. In situations where security forces may be acting with excessive force, lawyers must review public-order laws to ensure that their clients' rights are protected.

The incident also underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability within Mozambique's security apparatus. The country's public-order laws give significant powers to security forces, but these must be exercised within strict limits. The Anamola rally incident is a reminder that the use of force by police must always be proportionate and justified.

In light of this incident, lawyers in Mozambique should review public-order laws to ensure that they are aligned with international human rights standards. This will help to protect individual rights during public order situations and promote greater accountability within the security services.

This incident highlights the need for lawyers to review public-order laws in Mozambique and ensure that their clients' rights are protected, particularly in situations where security forces may be acting with excessive force.

Source: Original reporting via The Daily Briefing