Maputo, Mozambique — Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia, widely known as Mano Shottas, livestreamed his final moments on Facebook after being shot twice in the back by police on December 12, 2024. His desperate plea—“Help. I got shot and they keep shooting…I am dying”—has become a rallying cry for press freedom in a nation grappling with escalating violence against journalists following a disputed election.
Sibia, 30, was documenting police tear-gassing homes during a protest against chromium transportation in Ressano Garcia when an officer ordered him to stop filming. Witnesses reported the officer shot Sibia twice as he continued recording, fearing evidence of police actions. He succumbed to his injuries hours later.
Four days later, at Sibia’s funeral, police opened fire on mourners, killing two and injuring journalist Pedro Júnior of SPMTV. Júnior, wearing a press vest, was shot in the arm while filming the chaos. As he and colleagues fled, police pursued them, killing a civilian and forcing Júnior to seek treatment in South Africa.
The crisis deepened on January 7 when Arlindo Chissale, editor of Pinnacle News and an opposition supporter, vanished while traveling in Cabo Delgado. Witnesses reported eight men—three in military uniforms—forced him into an unmarked vehicle. While family sources and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) confirm Chissale was tortured and killed, CPJ has yet to independently verify his death.
Chissale, a vocal critic of the ruling Frelimo party, had previously been detained in 2022 for covering the Islamic State-linked insurgency. His outlet, Pinnacle News, is known for exposing corruption and human rights abuses.
Post-Election Repression
These attacks are emblematic of a broader crackdown since October 2024, when Frelimo claimed victory in elections marred by fraud allegations. Security forces have killed over 300 protesters and arrested thousands, while journalists face intimidation, arrests, and lethal violence.
CPJ Africa Coordinator Muthoki Mumo condemned the impunity: “Mozambican journalists pay a heavy price for reporting amid this crisis. Authorities must ensure accountability for Sibia’s murder, investigate Júnior’s attack, and resolve Chissale’s disappearance”.
Institutional Silence
Police spokesperson Leonel Muchina and Cabo Delgado’s criminal investigation service have ignored repeated inquiries from CPJ. Meanwhile, Mozambique’s Media Institute (MISA) warns of “worsening restrictions on fundamental freedoms,” urging independent probes into post-election abuses.
By Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
