The government is strengthening the capacity of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) in matters related to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the proportional use of force in the management of public protests, according to the Mozambique Information Agency.
The information was released on Wednesday, March 11, in Maputo, by Prime Minister Benvinda Levi during a special question period with the government held in the Assembly of the Republic.
According to the Prime Minister, the training involves members of the Armed Forces of Mozambique and the Police of the Republic of Mozambique and is being implemented with the support of national and international partners, with the aim of ensuring that their actions are in line with the principles of the rule of law.
Benvinda Levi also highlighted measures aimed at strengthening oversight and combating impunity, noting that in 2025, the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) was transformed into a scientific and investigative police force, operating under the authority of the Attorney General, which, she said, “gives it greater functional autonomy.”
During her speech, the prime minister recalled that the violent and illegal demonstrations that broke out after the general elections held on October 9, 2024 caused losses of more than $504 million.
According to data presented by the Executive, the protests, marked by acts of vandalism and looting of public and private property, resulted in more than 50,000 unemployed, 411 dead, about 3,700 injured, and 7,200 detained.
The demonstrations were called by the defeated presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, who contested the results of the presidential elections, won by the current head of state, Daniel Chapo, who took office on January 15.
According to the government, the protests affected moral values and the social, economic, religious, and cultural fabric of the country, disrupting the normal functioning of institutions and, indirectly, some neighboring countries.
For several weeks, the demonstrations paralyzed the functioning of ports, airports, and important border posts, including Ressano Garcia, in the district of Moamba, Maputo province, considered the largest border post in the country, and Machipanda, in Manica province.
On that occasion, Levi called on citizens to respect the law and the authorities as a condition for ensuring stability and social harmony. “Therefore, allow me, from this podium, to urge all Mozambicans to respect the laws and the authorities as a condition for ensuring a harmonious life in society, which is the desire of us all,” she said.
The minister also called for vigilance and the timely reporting of acts that constitute human rights violations, stressing that the promotion and protection of these rights are fundamental to healthy coexistence.
