The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, on Monday, 18 May, called for heightened police vigilance to prevent kidnappers from breaking through the country’s “security wall”, stressing that the fight against crime remains an absolute priority.
“In these months in which the situation has normalised, criminals are likely to be devising schemes to breach the security wall established by the State. It is imperative to maintain a high level of vigilance against kidnappings,” Daniel Chapo warned in Maputo during a speech to the police on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Mozambique Police.
The Head of State said that the results achieved in recent months in combating kidnappings in Mozambique are encouraging, but cautioned that authorities should not become complacent and assume that the crime has “become a thing of the past”.
“The fight against kidnappings must continue to be an absolute priority in the country. These recommendations are not directed only at the PRM. They apply to all forces and institutions that are part of Mozambique’s security framework,” he stated.
Recently, the Attorney General’s Office warned that kidnappers are infiltrating state institutions to weaken the capacity to investigate and combat these crimes, adding that criminal organisations are resorting to corruption and advanced technological tools.
“Kidnapping is one of the most serious manifestations of organised crime in our country. These criminal networks often operate with transnational links, hierarchical structures, and intensive use of sophisticated technological means, as well as mechanisms of corruption and infiltration within state bodies, making investigations more complex,” said Attorney General Américo Letela.
Speaking in Parliament during the presentation of the Attorney General’s Annual Report, he also highlighted changes in kidnappers’ modus operandi, including the use of advanced technologies, encrypted communication channels, and ransom payments in cryptocurrencies.
In April, Daniel Chapo stated that Mozambique had gone six months without recorded kidnapping cases, stressing that improved security is strengthening confidence and attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
The President said this stability fulfils the promise he made at his inauguration in January 2025 and is beginning to restore confidence among national and international business communities, which have been the main targets of such crimes.
He also recalled that kidnappings have affected around 150 businesspeople over the past 12 years, according to data previously released by the business sector, contributing to a worsening business environment in the country.
Source: Diário Económico
