Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, who was sworn into office last week, has dismissed Mozambique’s police chief, Bernardino Rafael, amid allegations of brutality during the disputed October election, sparking controversy and denial from Rafael.
Earlier this week, Mr. Rafael said that, “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.”
But Civil society groups reported that an estimated 300 protester killings had occurred during the demonstrations.
Consequently, 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 in the aftermath of Mozambique’s election violence appointed Joaquim Sive as the new police chief.
Sive previously served in Sofala and Nampula but he got suspended in 2019 following fatalities at a Frelimo rally.
