Police & jail misconductCourts & justice
Mozambique's prosecutors opened 31 cases against police over post-election protest killings but, as of July 2025, had filed no formal charges
Confidence: Confirmed · 1 sourceMozambique · Oct 12, 2026
Subject of this story
Attorney General's Office of Mozambique (Procuradoria-Geral da República)
Bernardino Rafael, Former Commander-General, Police of the Republic of Mozambique (dismissed January 2025)
Mozambique Police (PRM)
Also named
Advocate
Human Rights Watch
Plataforma Decide
What happened
Human Rights Watch reported that civil society groups, including Plataforma Decide, estimate about 400 demonstrators were shot dead and about 600 injured during post-election protests following the October 9, 2024 election. Mozambique's Attorney General's Office announced 31 criminal proceedings against police officers, and on July 7, 2025 questioned former police commander-general Bernardino Rafael, who was dismissed in January 2025. As of that hearing, HRW said it had not resulted in formal charges or precautionary measures.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Roles
●
The Attorney General's Office opened 31 criminal proceedings against members of the Mozambican police implicated in protest repression, with no formal charges filed as of the July 7, 2025 hearing.
1 source
- Human Rights Watch — Human Rights WatchDocument
opened 31 criminal proceedings against members of the Mozambican police implicated in protest repression
Sources (1)
Human Rights WatchThe Attorney General's Office opened 31 criminal proceedings against members of the Mozambican police implicated in protest repression; approximately 400 demonstrators were killed and about 600 injured, with proceedings remaining preliminary and no formal charges filed as of the July 7, 2025 hearing.
Response
Attorney General's Office of Mozambique (Procuradoria-Geral da República)
Statement given
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
Bernardino Rafael
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
Mozambique Police (PRM)
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.