President Sacks Police Chief Amid Election Abuse, Brutality Allegations
Civil society groups, however, reported approximately 300 fatalities in the protests.
President Daniel Chapo, who assumed office last week, has dismissed Mozambique’s police chief, Bernardino Rafael, following allegations of brutality during October’s disputed election and its aftermath.
Rafael denied claims by opposition leaders that he collaborated with criminal groups to kidnap and kill protesters, BBC reports.
Earlier this week, he stated, “Only 96 people had died, including 17 officers. Those killed had attacked police officers who had defended themselves, or they had been hit by stray bullets.”
Civil society groups, however, reported approximately 300 fatalities in the protests.
The Mozambique Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CDD) accused elite National Criminal Investigation Service agents of “infiltrating protest crowds” and conducting house raids leading to arbitrary arrests and killings, turning residential areas into “war zones.”
The police force has denied responsibility for the daylight killings of political aides Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, linked to opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who claims he is the legitimate election winner.
Chapo, facing immense pressure to restore public trust, appointed Joaquim Sive as the new police chief.
Sive previously served in Sofala and Nampula but was suspended in 2019 following fatalities at a Frelimo rally.
