Good afternoon. The attempted murder yesterday of the musician and political activist Joel Amaral, also known as MC Trufafá, demonstrates once again that supporting Mozambique’s political opposition can be a deadly activity. There can be little doubt that those who directed the shooting are supporters of ruling party Frelimo who oppose the government doing any kind of deal with de facto opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane. Amaral has been close to Mondlane for several years and a member of his inner circle. When Mondlane left opposition party Renamo last year, Amaral followed. This was something of a coup for Mondlane, since Amaral was the creator of the popular song “Trufafá” that became a Renamo anthem. Amaral is the second person close to Mondlane to be targeted since last year’s elections, after the killing of his legal adviser Elvino Dias along with Podemos party representative Paulo Guambe in October.
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Tom Bowker
After Mondlane instigated nationwide protests against the government, following those disputed election results and the killings of Dias and Guambe, opposition activists began to be shot dead, often at night, all over the country. The killers appeared to be targeting people perceived to be leading the protests locally. Since President Daniel Chapo took power, the killings have diminished, but have not ended completely.
