Balama, Cabo Delgado – May 2, 2025 A tense atmosphere gripped
the district of Balama in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province this Friday,
following a crackdown by the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and the Rapid
Intervention Unit (UIR) on local residents demanding compensation for land
seized for graphite mining operations.
Since October 2024, former owners of farmland (machambas) in the
mining zone have been demanding fair compensation. The dispute has already been
mediated twice unsuccessfully by provincial governor Valige Tauabo and other
local authorities.
On May 2, the situation escalated dramatically when heavily
armed, masked military personnel and UIR agents stormed the protest site, where
residents had been camping. Witnesses say the forces fired indiscriminately and
detained several farmers, taking them into custody.
“Our farms are now landing us in jail. Beware of land with the wealth of others,” one resident lamented in frustration.
The violent crackdown raises serious concerns about the rights
of local communities in areas affected by natural resource extraction and the
government's approach to land-related conflicts. According to local sources,
human rights organizations are not yet involved in the case, but calls for
urgent government accountability are growing.
Community journalists are reportedly being blocked from covering
the incident, further intensifying fears over press freedom and transparency.
One eyewitness stated that local journalists were warned not to
report on the situation or interview any of the detainees.
There are no confirmed reports of deaths or injuries, but
security presence has visibly increased in both the mining camp and Balama
town. An armored vehicle has reportedly been deployed to the area where
residents remain camped. (Mozanorte)
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