The President of the Constitutional Council (CC), Lúcia Ribeiro, warned on Monday, 17 November, about the increasing risks posed by so-called “digital militias” to the integrity of the judiciary and the functioning of constitutional justice in the country. The warning was made during the ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the CC and the 50th anniversary of Mozambican constitutionalism, held in Maputo.
“What we have done so far only proves that we are capable of doing much more and better, but for that, we must never fall into complacency, inertia, the temptation of taking the easy path, and even less, the fear of any threats, whoever they may come from,” declared Lúcia Ribeiro in a speech marked by direct references to the intimidation faced by judges and other judicial system actors, according to Lusa.
The CC president’s warning comes at a time when verbal attacks and threats against magistrates have intensified on social media and other digital platforms, generating growing concern among justice operators. Last Friday, the Mozambican Association of Judges (AMJ) publicly denounced threats directed at two magistrates and the spouse of one of them, considering these acts as “serious assaults on the authority of the judicial system” and calling for swift investigations.
The threats, circulating as messages on social networks and digital forums, include allegations of corruption in a case that has already been judged—allegations the AMJ classifies as “unfounded.”
In November 2024, shortly after the general elections, the Constitutional Council also reported that judges were being threatened with death, both privately and in public digital spaces. At the time, the institution stated that such acts of intimidation were not “weapons of democracy, but rather elements constituting a legal type of crime.” Recalling the World Conference on Constitutional Justice, held last month in Spain, Lúcia Ribeiro noted that attacks on constitutional jurisdictions are becoming a global phenomenon, led by “extremist and populist groups aiming to destroy democracy” that see constitutional justice as an obstacle to their goals. “These groups use digital militias to undermine trust in courts and influence judicial decisions,” she stated.
The magistrate also pointed to the proliferation of fake news and political attacks on constitutional courts, including deliberate attempts to alter their composition following government changes, as additional factors weakening judicial independence.
“We have a long way to go and much to do,” she acknowledged, emphasizing that the Constitutional Council continues to rely on “a team of dedicated professionals who raise the flag of self-improvement.” Lúcia Ribeiro publicly thanked the institution’s staff for their commitment over the years.
The National Association of Mozambican Jurists has also recently denounced cases of intimidation against judicial magistrates and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, requesting that the government ensure special protection for these professionals.
“Some intimidation is not even physical; it is through other means of moral coercion, and that must end,” stated the president of Anjur’s Board, José Caldeira, on 27 October. “When those who must enforce the law are not fully free to do so, it naturally exacerbates security problems.”
Monday’s ceremony marked a moment of institutional reaffirmation for the Constitutional Council amid increasing pressure on sovereign bodies, with its president highlighting the importance of defending constitutional justice as the ultimate guarantee of the Rule of Law and democratic stability.
Source: Diário Económico
