Military provides civic services as police continue to clamp down on protesters
Maputo remains tense as protesters confront security forces, pushing forward to the intersection of Eduardo Mondlane and Amílcar Cabral avenues, about three kilometers from Julius Nyerere Avenue in the city center. The Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR), the anti-riot division of the Mozambican Police (PRM), has been mobilised to disperse the demonstrators, whose intended destination is still unclear.
While police units work to contain the crowd, the Armed Forces have focused on civic duties, including clearing barricades along Eduardo Mondlane Avenue and engaging in dialogue with protesters, urging them to refrain from damaging infrastructure.
On Eduardo Mondlane Avenue, from the statue up to the vicinity of Pandora in the central district, burning tires have reduced traffic flow to emergency vehicles only. The persistent presence of protesters in this area has prompted an increased security response.
In interactions with residents, military personnel have been emphasizing their role in defending the country’s sovereignty, legal institutions, and the democratically established government.
Outside the central district, protesters have also attempted to reach the city center via Joaquim Chissano Avenue, while in the Maquinag area, a temporary dispersal was short-lived as demonstrators regrouped, clashing with police using stones and bottles.
As of midday, the situation remains unresolved, with scattered groups active across various parts of the city. Some protesters dispersed from Eduardo Mondlane have moved toward 24 de Julho Avenue, further heightening tensions in Maputo.
