Decide Submits Police Violence Evidence to Mozambique PGR

• Mozambique's "Decide" Electoral Platform submitted over 1,000 files documenting alleged police violence to the Attorney General's Office.
• The evidence pertains to the 2024-2025 post-election demonstrations, which began peacefully but devolved into rioting after being called by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane.
• Mondlane faces a Supreme Court trial in October on charges including incitement to terrorism, following the lifting of his immunity by the Council of State.
• The submitted files aim to bolster an ongoing PGR investigation into deaths, torture, and disappearances, and a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda and former police commander Bernardino Rafael.
• "Decide" reports that police shot dead approximately 400 people and injured 619 others during five months of unrest beginning October 21, 2024.

The submission of this extensive evidence marks a critical juncture in the pursuit of accountability for alleged state-sponsored violence, potentially accelerating long-stalled investigations and influencing high-profile criminal proceedings.

Mozambique's Attorney General's Office (PGR) has received a substantial collection of evidence documenting alleged police brutality, submitted by the prominent non-governmental organization, the "Decide" Electoral Platform. On Wednesday, the organization delivered more than 1,000 files, comprising videos and photographs, which reportedly detail acts of violence committed by law enforcement during the widespread post-election demonstrations that occurred between 2024 and 2025.

These demonstrations, initiated by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who was backed by the PODEMOS party, were originally intended as peaceful protests against what he claimed were fraudulent results from the general elections held in October 2024. However, the gatherings subsequently escalated into rioting. Wilker Dias, executive director of "Decide," confirmed that the submitted device contained precisely 1,137 files, which are now part of ongoing PGR proceedings investigating deaths, torture, and disappearances linked to the unrest. The organization also launched a social media campaign, successfully gathering over 500 additional videos to supplement their existing collection, all aimed at bolstering the case.

The submission of this extensive evidence marks a critical juncture in the pursuit of accountability for alleged state-sponsored violence, potentially accelerating long-stalled investigations and influencing high-profile criminal proceedings. The files are specifically intended to strengthen a criminal complaint previously lodged by civil society organizations against Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda and former police commander Bernardino Rafael. This development unfolds as Venancio Mondlane, widely regarded as the nation's leading opposition figure due to his political prominence and significant rally attendance, faces his own legal challenges.

Mondlane has been summoned by the Supreme Court for a trial scheduled for October, where he stands accused of multiple offenses, including public apology for a crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public instigation to crime, instigation, and incitement to terrorism. His immunity was recently lifted by the Council of State, an advisory body to the Mozambican President, paving the way for these proceedings. The evidence provided by "Decide" could therefore play a significant role in the broader legal landscape surrounding the post-election period.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, the pursuit of justice within Mozambique has faced considerable obstacles. Wilker Dias noted that while the case has progressed more rapidly at the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, the national investigation by the PGR has experienced stagnation. Authorities have attributed these delays to the inherent complexity of the investigations, which necessitate interviewing witnesses across various regions of the country.

However, Dias also alleged that a lack of cooperation from the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) has significantly impeded progress. According to statistics compiled by "Decide," the five months of unrest, which commenced on October 21, 2024, resulted in approximately 400 people being shot dead by police, with an additional 619 individuals sustaining gunshot injuries. The organization expresses hope that the newly submitted files will invigorate and expedite the national proceedings, pushing forward the quest for accountability.

This development signifies a major push for accountability regarding alleged police violence in Mozambique, potentially influencing ongoing criminal proceedings against former officials and opposition figures like Venancio Mondlane. Lawyers should monitor the PGR's handling of this extensive evidence, as it could establish precedents for state accountability, inform defense strategies in related cases, or highlight avenues for human rights litigation, particularly given the parallel proceedings at the African Court.

Source: Original reporting via AIM