By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
MAPUTO, Mozambique – In the worst violence in the country since 2008, police officers opened fire on protestors in Mozambique’s capital city of Maputo on Wednesday. At least ten demonstrators were killed and more than four hundred others have been injured.
Riots erupted earlier this week as the price of bread, water, energy, and other staples increased. Young men rampaged through Maputo throwing stones and looting shops.
The situation seemed mostly under control by Saturday.
Red Cross Spokesman Americo Ubisse said on Saturday, “We have no incidents reported since yesterday. Everything is fine, the situation is still under control.”
Earlier in the week, Amnesty International urged Mozambique’s police not to use live ammunition to disperse violent demonstrations unless lives were at risk.
“While we recognize that the police are trying to contain a violent protest, live ammunition – which amounts to lethal force – should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life,” said Muluka-Anne Miti, Amnesty International’s Mozambique researcher.
The riots broke out after the government’s decision to raise the price of bread by thirty percent, and quickly descended into chaos.
One witness described a scene of a woman running down a street, rubbing her stomach, and saying, “We are hungry, all Mozambicans are hungry.” State television reported that police shot and killed seven people, including a six-year old girl walking home from school.
According to police spokesman Pedro Cossa, police made one hundred and forty-two arrests. Three buses were burned, thirty-two shops were vandalized, and more than five cars were burned, he added. Bank, electricity company offices, and food warehouses belonging to the Sasseka and Delta Trading distribution companies were vandalized and looted, according to the Mozambique News Agency.
Last week, the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) called an emergency meeting for September 24 to address the food crisis, which is not just affecting Mozambique. Severe droughts in Russia and eastern Europe have caused wheat prices around the world to rise. Egypt has seen protests resulting from rising food prices in recent months. The United Nations said that international food prices have reached their highest point in two years.
The United States State Department urged Americans in Mozambique to avoid unnecessary travel and remain at their homes and hotels.
For more information, please see:
Guardian – UN calls special meeting to address food shortages amid predictions of riots – 5 September 2010
Al Jazeera – Deaths in Mozambique price riots – 4 September 2010
BBC – Mozambique police fire rubber bullets at Maputo rioters – 3 September 2010
CNN – 7 killed, nearly 300 wounded in Mozambique violence – 3 September 2010
Independent – Seven killed as rising food prices spark riots in Mozambique – 2 September 2010
Amnesty International – Mozambique Police Must Only Use Live Ammunition to Protect Life During Demonstrations – 1 September 2010
