On Thursday, 31st October, access to social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, was interrupted amid electoral protests and at a time when the opposition called for demonstrations. On 25th October, the country had already experienced a general Internet outage across various mobile operators.

A week earlier, on 24th October, the electoral commission announced Daniel Chapo, the candidate from the ruling Frelimo party, as the winner of the presidential election held on 9th October. This result was contested by Venãncio Mondlane, who came second, urging his supporters to “paralyse the country” until 7th November.

This call to action led to protests marked by violent police repression, which immediately erupted in Maputo, the capital, and in other cities across the country. These events resulted in over ten deaths in several cities.

On Sunday, 27th October, the opposition filed a complaint with the Constitutional Council, the highest court in the country, demanding a recount of the votes.

As a reminder, on the night of 18th to 19th October, two associates of the Mozambican opposition figure Venancio Mondlane, his lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guamba, a member of the Podemos party, were murdered. Mr Dias was preparing a legal challenge to denounce potential electoral fraud.

The Constitution of Mozambique, in Article 48, paragraph 1, states that “all citizens have the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as well as the right to information.” At the continental level, Mozambique has ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which affirms the principles underpinning the rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Finally, Resolution 580 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), published in 2024, calls for maintaining access to the Internet during electoral periods.

AfricTivistes reminds us that censorship or restrictions on the internet are a notable hindrance to the freedoms of expression, assembly, and access to information that are guaranteed. In this sense, they constitute violations of international human rights standards.

We condemn any form of censorship and interruption of internet services, particularly those that have a detrimental impact on fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of information, and freedom of assembly. 

We encourage the government of Mozambique to respect the rights of citizens, as well as its regional and continental commitments. We call on the government of Mozambique to ensure internet freedom, to avoid suspension, and to refrain from implementing internet restrictions to control dissenting voices and legitimate protests.

Indeed, such restrictive actions undermine the rights of Mozambican citizens to freedom of expression and assembly, their right to information, and access to cyberspace, and represent a clear regression of democracy. 

We also urge the Mozambican authorities to prioritise dialogue rather than repression, which has so far only led to regrettable loss of life. 

We stand alongside the citizens and pro-democracy activists in Mozambique who are fighting for the respect of rights. 

Finally, like other civil society organisations on the continent and in the name of Pan-Africanism, AfricTivistes pays tribute to the memory of the victims.