On November 14, 2024, three Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal (SERNIC) agents kidnapped, tortured, and interrogated Agapito, a Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) student, for his involvement in a student protest. 

Around 8pm on November 13, three armed and hooded men in masks and civilian clothing intercepted Agapito, who was on his way to a store, blindfolded and gagged him, and drove him to an unknown destination. There, a fourth individual tortured and interrogated Agapito, demanding to know why Agapito had participated in demonstrations inside and outside the UEM campus. The individual stated that Agapito’s activism had made him a target and that there were orders to end Agapito’s life. 

Twenty-four hours later, one of the kidnappers released Agapito after learning that they were from the same province. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the abduction of a higher education student in retaliation for his right to freedom of expression and assembly. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of scholars, students, and staff, including by investigating and holding perpetrators of such acts responsible, in line with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, kidnappings that target members of the higher education community undermine the conditions needed for the meaningful exercise of the right to education and academic freedom.

Sources:

*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Centro de Integridade Publica (CIP)
https://mznews.co.mz/en/fomos-mandados-para-ti-matar-estudante-da-uem-raptado-conta-drama-vivido-em-cativeiro/
https://allafrica.com/stories/202411220142.html
https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-elections-pupil-shot-dead-during-demonstrations-aim-report-271121/