Mozambique has seen an increase in terrorist attacks in the north of the country since October 2017, especially in Cabo Delgado province, creating a prolonged period of conflict in the region. It is unclear what is behind the acts of violence, although some associate worsening poverty issues or increasing religious radicalism as the main causes.
According to the news report “Cabo Ligado,” the attacks in Cabo Delgado have already caused more than 2,000 deaths and displaced over 2 million people. As more people are affected, a debate around access to information in times of conflict is also emerging. It has become difficult to find reliable information about what is happening on the ground and journalists’ safety is increasingly coming under threat.
One of the emblematic cases is that of Ibrahimo Mbaruco, a journalist who disappeared in 2020 while working somewhere near a conflict zone. Mbaruco disappeared on April 7, after being surrounded by the military, as he informed his family. However, two years later, the authorities remain silent about the disappearance.
The government had already tried to control the way information on terrorism is disseminated in the country. For example, in November 2020, the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, challenged the Mozambican Armed Forces (FADM) to restore normalcy in areas of the country affected by conflict. He specifically attacked the use of social media for spreading disinformation about Cabo Delgado.
More than three years after the terrorism campaigns began, Mozambique is now preparing to introduce the Law for the Suppression, Combat, and Prevention of Terrorism and Related Actions, aimed at combating the spread of false information on terrorism in the country. Although these laws are considered timely, there are concerns among the media. MISA-Mozambique, a regional entity for the defense of press freedom, questioned the government’s intentions behind the legislation:
After these criticisms, the Parliament slightly changed the phrasing of one of the articles to say:
However, despite MISA-Mozambique, praising the change, a somber mood remains in some parts of the same law. The regional organization said:
Press freedom in Mozambique
Reporters Without Borders, an organization that monitors press freedom around the world, said that a significant number of media outlets in Mozambique are controlled directly or indirectly by the authorities or members of the ruling Frelimo party, which considerably hinders their independence. While the freedom and independence of journalists are supposed to be guaranteed by the Constitution, the press law, and the right to information, the reality on the ground is different. The aforementioned legislation is poorly enforced, as the state moves increasingly toward authoritarianism and state-sponsored propaganda.
For the general press freedom index in 2022, Mozambique is rated 116 out of 180. Reporters Without Borders reports that hostile rhetoric and attacks against journalists have increased in recent years, with 12 attacks in 2021. They note that it is almost impossible for journalists to enter the north of the country without risking being arrested.
