Mozambique: Chapo Calls for Voluntary Surrender of Illegal Firearms Before December Deadline

What the report says

Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo has urged people to hand over illegally held firearms before the end of December, warning that authorities will begin forced collection after the deadline. The appeal was made in Manhiça district in Maputo province during the closing ceremony for the 20th training course for the Mozambican Police Special Operations and Reserve Units, according to the report distributed by AllAfrica from Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique.

Chapo said the surrender process is part of a police amnesty programme known as Operation Amnesty Two. He said those who turn in weapons voluntarily will not be questioned, punished or detained. The programme is scheduled to run until December this year.

In the same address, Chapo called on police to act with discipline, professionalism and respect for the law. He said authority must be exercised without violating human rights or fundamental freedoms, and he linked stronger public security to broader national goals such as peace, sovereignty and economic development.

The president also said Mozambique is facing increasingly complex security threats, including terrorism, trafficking, kidnappings, organised crime and cybercrime. He cited improvement in the security situation in Cabo Delgado compared with two years ago, while calling for continued cooperation among Mozambican forces and partner troops from Rwanda and Tanzania.