MOZAMBIQUE’S newly inaugurated President, Daniel Chapo, has dismissed Police Chief Bernadino Rafael following allegations of brutality during the disputed October election and its aftermath.
Allegations of brutality
Opposition figures have accused Rafael of collaborating with criminal groups to kidnap and kill civilian protesters in recent months. Rafael has denied these claims, stating that only 96 people died during the protests, including 17 officers, and attributing the deaths to self-defence actions by police or stray bullets.
Public outcry and protests
The disputed election results, which extended the ruling Frelimo party’s nearly 50-year rule, led to widespread protests. Civil society groups report that approximately 300 people have been killed in the unrest.
Security shake-up
President Chapo’s decision to remove Rafael marks the first major security shake-up of his presidency. The new president faces significant pressure to restore public trust and address the nation’s economic challenges following months of unrest.
Appointment of new police chief
Joaquim Sive, previously the police chief for the provinces of Sofala and Nampula, has been appointed as the new police chief. In 2019, Sive was suspended after at least 10 people died following a Frelimo rally at the 25 de Junho Stadium in Nampula.
Ongoing investigation
The Mozambique Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CDD) reported that agents from the elite National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) infiltrated protest crowds, leading to arbitrary arrests and killings. Sernic has not commented on these allegations.
The dismissal of Police Chief Bernadino Rafael and the appointment of Joaquim Sive signal a significant shift in Mozambique’s security leadership. The new administration faces the challenge of restoring public trust and addressing the underlying issues that led to the recent unrest.
