Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Mozambique

Reports of Mass Graves in Mozambique

(Johannesburg, May 4, 2016) – On April 27, 2016, Deutsche Welle and LUSA news agency reported the discovery of a mass grave in Canda administrative post (near Macossa), Gorongosa district, in the central Mozambican province of Sofala. Local people interviewed by journalists said they discovered the grave after noticing the strong smell of decomposing bodies. They said they had counted between 100 to 120 bodies in a hole once used as an open-pit gold mine.

When LUSA and Deutsche Welle journalists visited the area on April 30, they saw and photographed at least 15 bodies scattered in the bush near the alleged mass grave. Some of the bodies were fresh, while others showed visible signs of decomposition. Signs of violence were evident on a number of the bodies and some had their hands tied. Due to the presence of security forces, the journalists were unable to reach the site of the mass grave seen by local residents.

“The Mozambican authorities should urgently act on reports of a mass grave and the discovery of at least 15 bodies,” said Zenaida Machado, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “They should immediately launch a credible and transparent investigation to determine the identities of the victims found, the causes of death, and who is responsible. Denying the existence of the grave without appropriate investigations only serves to raise suspicions about what happened, rather than uncovering the truth.”

The region, which has recently been affected by clashes between the Mozambican army and gunmen of the Renamo opposition party, is under the supervision of the government security and defense forces.

Gorongosa district authorities and the provincial government of Sofala denied the existence of the mass grave. Mozambican police said on May 3 that they have set up a team to investigate the reports, although no judicial officials have yet gone to the site to investigate.

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on Mozambique, please visit: https://www.hrw.org/africa/mozambique

Disclaimer

Human Rights Watch
© Copyright, Human Rights Watch - 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA