Post-Election Violence Reaches Cabo Delgado and Jihadist Insurgents Might Benefit

- One police post and seven Frelimo Party offices were destroyed and set on fire in the city of Pemba

- The police speak of a subversive plan which includes releasing prisoners and seizing guns

By António Cumbane and Tomásia Job

Maputo (MOZTIMES) – The city of Pemba, capital of Cabo Delgado province, has been reached by violent mass protests, contesting the results of the general elections held on 9 October.

On Thursday, rioters destroyed a police checkpoint in Muxara neighbourhood, located on the main north-south highway (EN1), at the entrance to the city, thus allowing people and cars to enter and leave without verification.

On Friday, the violence escalated, and at least seven Frelimo offices were destroyed in peripheral neighbourhoods. A statue of a hero of the National Liberation Struggle, Alberto Chipande, was destroyed and dragged through the streets of the city.

“The demonstrators are destroying the offices of the Frelimo Party. I can confirm that they destroyed and burnt the offices in the neighbourhoods of Natite, Gingone, Josina Machel, Metula, Cariacó, Mahate and Paquitequete”, a resident of Pemba told MOZTIMES on condition of anonymity.

To take control of the police post on EN1, more than 300 people came together, outnumbering the police agents.

“It was about 17.00 on Thursday when a group of about 300 demonstrators approached the police post, armed with sharp implements and petrol”, said Macário Chissale, a correspondent in Cabo Delgado.

Also on Thursday the demonstrators knocked down a statue of Alberto Chipande, located near the Teachers Training Institute. On Friday, they knocked down a second statue, also of Chipande, close to Pemba International Airport.

“The city has been in panic since Thursday afternoon”, said Chissale.

So far, there are no confirmed deaths, but tension dominates the Cabo Delgado provincial capital, and it is feared that the situation might benefit the jihadist insurgents. They operate in the northern part of the province but, according to security reports, they have sleeper cells in Pemba.

The removal of the Muxara check point allows free circulation to and from Pemba, which increases the risks of the insurgents entering the city. Cabo Delgado has been suffering attacks by jihadist insurgents since 2017, and these raids have killed over 5,000 people and displaced more than a million. Pemba has become the main destination for most of these internally displaced people.

Subversive plan

The spokesperson for the General Command of the Police, Orlando Mudumane, claimed that there is a subversive plan to assault prisons, release their inmates, and steal weapons. He blamed this plan on unnamed members of the PODEMOS Party, led by Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate who claims that he won the elections.

“The Mozambican defence and security forces possess credible information showing that, over the weekend, members and supporters of the PODEMOS Party intend to attack and vandalise vital strategic objects of the State, such as military sub-units and prisons, with the aim of seizing military equipment and freeing prisoners to join their ranks”, said Mudumane, speaking to reporters in Maputo. He guaranteed that the defence and security forces will repel the attacks.

But the police have proved unable to contain the violent protests, particularly in the outlying urban neighbourhoods and in the districts, where there is a shortage of riot police and of means of transport.

For example, last Wednesday a group of rioters destroyed and burnt a courtroom in Morrumbala district, in Zambézia, and set free about 100 prisoners. The police were unable to stop the attack on the court.

The Mozambican Association of Judges (AMJ) reacted in a statement on Friday, urging the demonstrators not to attack courts, which are fundamental including for the protection of people arrested during the riots.

Fugitive opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, speaking from a hideout somewhere in Europe has decreed that this phase of the demonstrations will last until next Wednesday (JC/TJ).

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