The Mozambican Bar Association, Ordem dos Advogados de Moçambique (OAM) has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the country’s 2024 general elections, alleging widespread irregularities including vote manipulation, violence, intimidation and the abuse of state resources.

According to a report released by the Bar Association’s Human Rights Commission, the political environment surrounding the elections severely undermined the credibility of the process and compromised the possibility of free and fair polls. The report further states that the post-election period was marked by violent repression, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Commenting on the findings, legal expert and President of the Associação Mentes Resilientes, Gerson da Silva, said the allegations point to a deep erosion of democratic safeguards in Mozambique.

“What the Bar Association is describing is not a series of isolated incidents, but a systemic collapse of electoral integrity,” da Silva said. “When elections are conducted in an atmosphere of fear, intimidation and state-sponsored violence, the very foundation of democratic legitimacy is undermined.”

He added that the reported post-election repression raises serious concerns about accountability and the rule of law.

“The excessive use of force after the vote suggests an attempt to silence political dissent rather than address legitimate grievances through legal and democratic means,” da Silva said. “This sets a dangerous precedent for governance and constitutional order in Mozambique.”

The OAM said the scale of the alleged violations highlights structural weaknesses in electoral oversight and the protection of fundamental rights, calling for thorough investigations and meaningful reforms.

–ChannelAfrica–