URGENT ACTION Mozambique – Action lettre Un militant de l’opposition doit être protégé

Joel Amaral, également appelé MC Trufafá, a commencé à s’engager en politique en 2023 lorsqu’il a soutenu publiquement le parti d’opposition RENAMO lors des élections municipales. Il a rapidement retenu l’attention nationale en mobilisant des milliers de personnes grâce à sa capacité exceptionnelle à transformer des manifestations en rassemblements festifs. Son talent pour créer des chansons politiques virales l’a amené à se faire connaître dans les rues sous le nom de MC Trufafá.

En 2024, il a rejoint l’équipe de mobilisation du candidat à l’élection présidentielle et dirigeant de l’opposition Venâncio Mondlane. Là encore, il a joué un rôle essentiel pour mobiliser les foules à travers le pays pendant la campagne électorale puis lors des manifestations qui ont suivi les élections.

En dehors de son engagement politique, Joel Amaral est fonctionnaire de la municipalité de Quelimane, où il a précédemment été conseiller à la culture. Il est père de deux enfants, artiste et batteur du groupe Tudulos.

Depuis les dernières élections générales, qui ont eu lieu le 9 octobre 2024, le Mozambique a plongé dans une crise politique au cours de laquelle près de 400 personnes ont trouvé la mort, plus de 3’500 ont été blessées et plus de 4’000 arrêtées jusqu’à présent, selon les organisations locales de la société civile qui surveillent ces événements.

Les tensions politiques se sont accrues brusquement le 19 octobre, lorsque deux membres de l’opposition, l’avocat Elvino Dias et le cadre du PODEMOS Paulo Guambe, ont été abattus à Maputo, la capitale, par plus de 20 coups de feu d’après des informations largement relayées dans les médias. Tous deux faisaient partie de l’équipe de campagne de Venâncio Mondlane.

En janvier, le PODEMOS a dénoncé les enlèvements et les meurtres dont plus de 100 personnes liées au parti avaient été victimes depuis octobre.

Le 7 janvier 2025, Arlindo Chissale, journaliste, responsable politique et soutien de Venâncio Mondlane, a été soumis à une disparition forcée dans la province de Cabo Delgado. Des témoins qui ont parlé à sa famille ont déclaré l’avoir vu être sorti de force d’un minibus de transport public par des membres présumés des forces de défense et de sécurité. Les autorités n’ont encore donné aucune information sur le lieu où il se trouve.

Le 23 février, Dinis Tivane, conseiller de Venâncio Mondlane, a déposé une plainte après que plus de 24 impacts de balles ont été retrouvés sur le portail de sa maison à Maputo.

Le 8 mars, Daniel Guambe et Rafito Sitoe, deux sympathisants actifs de Venâncio Mondlane, ont été abattus à l’intérieur d’un véhicule dans le district de Massinga (province d’Inhambane). Le mode opératoire de leur assassinat rappelait ceux d’Elvino Dias et de Paulo Guambe le 19 octobre 2024.

Monsieur le Président de la République,

Je vous écris pour vous faire part de mon inquiétude au sujet de la tentative de meurtre visant Joel Amaral, alias MC Trufafá, artiste et soutien de Venâncio Mondlane qui est actuellement hospitalisé sous surveillance médicale.

Le 13 avril 2025 vers 15 heures, Joel Amaral a été la cible de tirs alors qu’il rentrait de l’église dans le quartier de Coalane à Quelimane (province de Zambézia). Il a été touché par deux balles, dont une dans la tête. Il a été conduit en urgence à l’hôpital central de Quelimane dans un état critique.

Le lendemain matin, l’hôpital de Quelimane a confirmé lors d’une conférence de presse que Joel Amaral avait été admis en soins intensifs. Selon les médecins, le côté gauche de sa tête a été touché, mais après une opération, son état a été stabilisé et il est maintenant hors de danger dans l’immédiat.

Joel Amaral s’est fait connaître en 2023 pour ses chansons en soutien à l’opposition, qui ont été largement diffusées. Depuis le début des manifestations qui ont suivi les élections en octobre 2024, de plus en plus de partisan·e·s de l’opposition sont la cible d’attaques et d’enlèvements. La tentative de meurtre de Joel Amaral s’inscrit dans cette tendance alarmante.

Je vous appelle à faire le nécessaire pour qu’une enquête approfondie, indépendante, impartiale, transparente et efficace soit menée dans les meilleurs délais sur la tentative d’assassinat de Joel Amaral et que sa sécurité soit garantie pendant qu’il poursuit sa convalescence à l’hôpital et lorsqu’il en sera sorti.

Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur le Président, l’expression de ma haute considération.
 

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you to express my concern about the attempted murder of Joel Amaral, aka MC Trufafá, an artist and national mobilizer for opposition politician Venâncio Mondlane, who is now in hospital under medical observation.

On 13 April 2025, at around 3pm, Joel was shot by unidentified men while returning home from church in Coalane neighbourhood, in the city of Quelimane, Zambézia Province. He was struck by two bullets, one of them to the head. Joel was rushed to Quelimane Central Hospital in critical condition.

On the morning of 14 April, Quelimane Central Hospital confirmed in a press conference that Joel had been admitted to intensive care. According to the doctors, the left side of his head was affected, but after medical procedures, he is now stable and no longer in immediate danger.

Joel Amaral became widely known in 2023 for producing viral songs in support of the opposition. Since the beginning of post-electoral protests in October 2024, there has been a growing pattern of targeted abductions and attacks against opposition supporters. The attempted murder of Joel fits this alarming trend.

I call on you to ensure that while Joel continues to recover in hospital, his attempted murder must be promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigated and to ensure his safety within and outside the hospital.

Yours sincerely,
 

Message and tag:

President of Mozambique – Facebook Page - Presidente Daniel Chapo
Ministry of Justice – Facebook account - MJACR

Suggested Tweet:

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Mozambique: On 13 April 2025, Joel Amaral, also known as MC Trufafá, a 34-year-old artist and national mobilizer for opposition politician Venâncio Mondlane, was shot by unidentified men while returning home from church. He was struck by two bullets—one of them to the head—in Coalane neighborhood, in the city of Quelimane, Zambézia Province. He was rushed to Quelimane Central Hospital in critical condition.

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On the morning of 14 April, Quelimane Central Hospital confirmed in a press conference that Joel had been placed in intensive care. According to the doctors, the left side of his: head was affected, but after medical procedures, he is now stable and no longer in immediate danger, but remains in the hospital.

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Since the beginning of post-electoral protests in October 2024, there has been a growing pattern of targeted attacks against opposition supporters. The attempted murder of Joel fits this alarming trend. While he continues to recover in hospital, Mozambican authorities must promptly investigate the incident and ensure his safety. [Link to UA]

Hashtags:

#ProtectAmaral #Protectheprotest

On 13 April 2025, Joel Amaral, also known as MC Trufafá, a 34-year-old Mozambican artist and national mobilizer for opposition politician Venâncio Mondlane, was shot by unidentified men while returning home from church in Coalane neighbourhood, in the city of Quelimane, Zambézia Province. He was struck by two bullets, one of them to the head. He was rushed to Quelimane Central Hospital in critical condition. Medical staff have confirmed that he is now stable and no longer in immediate danger. While he continues to recover in hospital, Mozambican authorities must promptly investigate the incident and ensure his safety.

Joel Amaral, also known as MC Trufafá, began his political journey in 2023 when he publicly supported opposition RENAMO party during the municipal elections. He quickly gained national attention by mobilizing thousands of people through his unique ability to turn protest marches into festive gatherings. With his talent for creating viral political songs, Joel became known in the streets as MC Trufafá.

In 2024, he joined the mobilization team of former presidential candidate and opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane. Once again, Joel played a key role in mobilizing large crowds across the country during campaigns and post-election protests.

Beyond politics, Joel is a public servant in the municipality of Quelimane, where he previously served as the Councillor for Culture. He is also a father of two, an artist, and the drummer of the band Tudulos.

Since the last general elections held on 9 October 2024, Mozambique has plunged into political turmoil that has resulted in nearly 400 people killed, more than 3'500 injured, and over 4'000 detained, according to local civil society organizations monitoring the crisis.

The political tension escalated on 19 October, when two opposition members, Lawyer Elvino Dias and senior member of the PODEMOS party Paulo Guambe were shot dead in the city of Maputo, with more than 20 bullets having been fired, as widely reported by media. Both were part of the team of opposition leader and former presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane.

In January, the PODEMOS party publicly denounced that more than 100 people connected to the party had been kidnapped or killed since October.

On 7 January 2025, Arlindo Chissale, journalist, politician, and supporter of Venâncio Mondlane has forcibly disappeared in Cabo Delgado province. Witnesses who spoke to the family said he was last seen being forcibly removed from a public minibus by alleged defense and security forces agents. The authorities have yet to provide any information regarding his whereabouts.

On 23 February, Dinis Tivane, advisor to Venâncio Mondlane, made a public complaint while showing more than 24 bullet holes that had been fired at the gate of his house in Maputo.

On 8 March, Daniel Guambe and Rafito Sitoe, two active supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, were shot dead inside a vehicle in the Massinga district, Inhambane province in the same style as lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe were shot dead on 19 October 2024.

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