The European Union (EU), through its High Representative Josep Borrell, has strongly condemned the murder of Elvino Dias, legal advisor to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, a lawyer for the Podemos party.
In an official statement received by DE, Borrell said that ‘the EU condemns in the strongest terms the murder of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, and offers its condolences to their families and friends, pointing out that in a democracy there is no place for politically motivated murders.’
Also in the document, Borrell demanded a thorough investigation into the crime. ‘We call for an immediate, exhaustive and transparent investigation that will bring to justice those responsible for this outrageous crime and clarify the circumstances in which it occurred. We look forward to the reactions of the Mozambican government.’
The high representative’s statement emphasised the need to maintain order and peace in the country, especially in the post-election context. ‘These events follow worrying reports of the violent dispersal of supporters in the aftermath of last week’s elections in Mozambique,’ said Borrell, adding that ’the EU calls for maximum restraint by all and respect for fundamental freedoms and political rights.’
In addition, the EU emphasised the importance of guaranteeing the safety of all candidates. ‘It is crucial that firm measures are taken to protect all candidates during this period,’ she concluded.
For her part, the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Mozambique, Laura Ballarín, expressed her full support for the EU High Representative’s statement, reinforcing the call for the competent national authorities to swiftly investigate the crime, identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable.
The EU EOM remains in the country to monitor the post-election process and, with this, Ballarín emphasised that ‘the EU expects the electoral management bodies to conduct the process with all the necessary diligence and transparency, respecting the will expressed by the Mozambican people.’
