Maputo, 11 July (AIM) – Hundreds of citizens on Tuesday rebelled against the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS), in Macomia town, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, causing the deaths of two soldiers and two members of the riot police (UIR).
According to Thursday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the rioting occurred at around 20.30, during a period of mandatory curfew imposed by the FDS in the region, when hundreds of citizens protested against the actions of the FDS, accused of murdering a defenseless citizen last Monday night.
This tragedy is a result of the difficult relationship between the FDS, who have been fighting against the Islamist terrorists in Cabo Delgado, and the local population. Local residents have accused the FDS of demanding money to provide protection against terrorists, as well as accusing residents of being terrorists without evidence.
Reacting to the case in a statement, the General Staff of the Armed Forces (FADM) admitted that an individual was killed by soldiers on patrol on Monday, after he was questioned about carrying “an empty container of machine gun ammunition, which raised great suspicions about his true intentions.”
“When questioned by members of the joint patrol about the origin of the box, the individual immediately fled and the patrol members fired several warning shots unsuccessfully. In the attempt to neutralize him, the individual was shot dead”, said the statement.
However, it does not explain why the troops opened fire instead of pursuing the suspect. The document also gave no details about the Wednesday violence in Macomia, but promised that the murder of the alleged terrorist “will be rigorously investigated to ensure that all the security measures taken were justified and necessary.”
The FADM argued that the security measures in force, including the curfew “are crucial to prevent the terrorist threat and guarantee security for everyone in the region”.
(AIM)
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