Amnesty International demanded on Tuesday that Mozambican authorities conduct a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the killing of opposition figure, Pedro João Chaúque, in Gaza, Mozambique, on May 16 and bring perpetrators to justice.

Chaúque, a member of the opposition party National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola), was shot dead when armed men entered his residence, seized his vehicle and belongings, and fled. His killing follows a string of attacks against opposition figures, including the killing of Anamola coordinator Anselmo Vicente in Manica province on May 9. There was also the disappearance of journalist Arlindo Chissale in January 2025 after a reported arrest by security forces.

Amnesty International has urged that investigations into Chaúque’s death must be thorough, transparent, and effective, with suspected perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials.

In addition, the organization insists that Mozambican authorities have a duty under international law to protect the right to life, liberty, and political expression. It urged the authorities to protect its citizens from violence, intimidation and harassment against critics and dissidents of the government.

Article 2(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Mozambique is a state party to, requires it to ensure that people can seek an effective remedy within its territories when there is a right violation even if it is committed by persons acting in an official capacity. This includes effective investigation and prosecution of severe crimes.

The assassination of Pedro João Chaúque is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign of violence against opposition figures in Mozambique. Human Rights Watch has documented at least ten killings of opposition members between October 2024 and March 2025, many carried out by unidentified gunmen, some in security forces uniforms. The October 2024 elections, marred by irregularities and restrictions on free expression, created fertile ground for intimidation and violence.