Amnesty International Accuses Mozambique of Violent Post-Election Crackdown
Above: A man confronts Mozambican police after they removed the body of a protester left covered on a curb in Matola, Maputo, on March 18, 2025. Image copyright: Photo by AMILTON NEVES/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
The security forces' response was a shameful overreaction that resulted in widespread human rights violations, unlawful killings, and devastating injuries to peaceful protesters. The government deliberately silenced dissent through violence, arbitrary arrests, and internet restrictions while failing to investigate or hold any perpetrators accountable.
Pro-government narrative
The protests led to extensive looting, vandalism, and destruction of public property, with demonstrators killing police officers and destroying state structures. The deployment of Mozambique's security forces was necessary to maintain order and protect public safety amid increasingly violent demonstrations threatening national stability.