Mozambique 2018
Yearbook 2018
Mozambique. In February, President Filipe Nyusi announced that he had reached an agreement with the opposition movement Renamo that in the future the country’s governors should not be appointed by the president but by the party or coalition that wins the elections in each region. The legislative changes would be in place before the fall local elections. According to Countryaah.com, Maputo is the capital city of Mozambique, a country located in Eastern Africa. These were held in October and resulted in victory for the Frelimo government party in 44 of 53 municipalities, while Renamo took home eight municipalities and Mozambique’s Democratic Movement (MDM) remained the largest in the port city of Beira. However, Renamo did not want to accept the election result, but claimed that the party won in another five municipalities. The country’s constitutional council granted Renamo right in so far as it ordered re-election in eight constituencies in Marromeu. According to media reports, there were also independent testimonies of election fraud in at least three other municipalities.
- According to Abbreviationfinder: MOZ is an three letter acronym for Mozambique.
In February, the northern part of the country was hit by severe floods due to heavy rains. At least 14 people died and tens of thousands needed help with food, among other things.
In June, a militant Islamist group operating in the northern province of Cabo Delgado reported killing at least 39 people and fleeing over a thousand others. In October, the death toll had risen to around 90 over the past twelve months. That those responsible would be Islamists was now questioned by many. No group had committed the murders and although the locals called the killers al-Shabab, no connection to the Somali movement of the same name could be demonstrated.
September
Security forces are accused of assault
September 15
Amnesty International accuses the country’s security forces of torturing suspected insurgents and jihadists in the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique. The human rights organization claims to have photo and film evidence of atrocities that the soldiers subjected them to. There must also have been extrajudicial executions. In recent days, a high-profile video has been circulated online. The film shows men in military uniforms shooting a naked woman with several dozen shots in the back. Several human rights organizations and the European Parliament are calling for an independent inquiry into the case. Cabo Delgado has in recent years been marked by violence since a group of Islamistsextremists 2017 launched an uprising. The group attacks both civilian and military targets and has taken control of the important port city of Mocimboa da Praia. The conflict has forced 250,000 people to flee and the security situation is so bad according to the UN food program WFP that it is not possible to reach tens of thousands with humanitarian aid.
August
Newspaper houses destroyed in fire
August 23
A fire breaks out in the privately owned news magazine Canal de Moçambique. The newspaper’s editorial staff is known for its digging journalism, critical scrutiny of the government and revelations of corruption. In June, the Canal de Mozambique was sued for publishing confidential contracts between the government and the international companies working on gas exploration in northern Mozambique. According to the newspaper’s editor, the fire was started by people who broke into the editorial office. One of the country’s most famous journalists, Fernando Lima, calls the act “a terrorist attack on freedom of expression”. President Filipe Nyusi condemns the attack.
Islamist extremists take over important port
12th of August
After several days of fighting, jihadists take control of the port of Mocimboa da Praia. The city is a strategic hub for natural gas production in the country. Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, the third against Mocimboa da Praia this year alone.
