oluwatosin oyeniyi MAPUTO, Mozambique — President Daniel Francisco Chapo has warned that authorities will forcibly collect illegally held firearms after December, as Mozambique prepares to end a police amnesty programme offering residents the opportunity to surrender weapons without punishment.
Speaking on Sunday at the closing ceremony of a special operations training course, Chapo urged citizens holding unlicensed or illegally possessed firearms to hand them over before the deadline. He said those who comply during the amnesty period would not be questioned, punished or detained for surrendering their weapons.
The warning signals a tougher approach to illegal firearm possession once the voluntary surrender programme expires. It also comes as the government seeks to strengthen public security amid concerns over organised crime, trafficking, kidnappings and the continuing insurgency in northern Mozambique.
Chapo Calls for Discipline and Respect for Human Rights
Alongside his warning on illegal weapons, Chapo stressed that security operations must remain within the law. Addressing officers completing specialised training, he said increased operational capacity should be matched by greater discipline and accountability.
“Specialisation does not place you above the law. On the contrary, the greater the operational capacity of a force, the greater its discipline must be,” he said.
The president emphasised that police officers must respect human rights and citizens’ fundamental freedoms while maintaining public order. He also called for continued investment in police training to improve professionalism and the ability of security personnel to respond to increasingly complex threats.
Chapo identified human and drug trafficking, kidnapping, organised crime and cybercrime among the challenges requiring a coordinated response. He urged closer cooperation between the police and other defence and security institutions.
His remarks highlight a dual priority for the government: strengthening the state’s capacity to tackle crime while ensuring that law enforcement does not become a source of abuse or insecurity for the public.
Illegal Firearms and the Challenge of Public Security
The December deadline places the focus on whether the amnesty can persuade people to surrender weapons voluntarily before enforcement measures begin.
For the programme to be effective, residents must understand its terms, the surrender process and the protection being offered during the amnesty period. Clear public communication and accessible surrender arrangements could help encourage participation, particularly among people who might otherwise be reluctant to approach the authorities.
The government’s next challenge will be to ensure that the end of the amnesty leads to a credible and lawful enforcement process. Chapo has warned that weapons will be collected forcibly after the deadline, but the details of how such operations will be conducted have not been specified in the reported announcement.
Illegal firearm possession is also only one part of Mozambique’s wider security challenge. Chapo’s reference to trafficking, kidnappings and organised crime points to the need for investigations, intelligence-sharing and cooperation across security agencies, rather than relying on weapons recovery alone.
The effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on whether it reduces the availability of illegal firearms and improves public safety without exposing communities to arbitrary searches, intimidation or unlawful detention.
Cabo Delgado Insurgency Remains a Major Security Test
Mozambique’s security concerns extend beyond conventional criminal activity. In the northern province of Cabo Delgado, an insurgency that began in 2017 has continued to threaten communities and complicate efforts to restore stability.
Chapo said the situation had improved over the past two years, crediting Mozambique’s Defence and Security Forces and troops from Rwanda and Tanzania for their efforts against the insurgents.
Rwandan forces were deployed to northern Mozambique in 2021 at Maputo’s request. Their intervention helped government forces regain control of areas previously overrun by insurgents and contributed to improved security around key economic infrastructure. Rwanda said in May that Mozambique had secured funding for its continued military deployment, although the financial arrangements were not made public.
However, gains on the security front have not eliminated the threat. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project reported in June that Islamic State Mozambique insurgents remained active across parts of Cabo Delgado, including through attacks, improvised explosive devices and kidnappings.
The contrast between the government’s assessment of improved security and continuing reports of insurgent activity underscores the difficulty of establishing lasting stability. Military pressure may restrict armed groups’ movements, but sustained progress also requires effective policing, protection for civilians and conditions that allow displaced communities to return safely.
Security as a Foundation for Economic Development
Chapo described public security as essential to Mozambique’s pursuit of economic independence, peace, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The connection between security and economic development is particularly significant in Cabo Delgado, a resource-rich province central to Mozambique’s ambitions in the natural gas sector. Persistent violence has disrupted communities and complicated investment, while improved security has helped create conditions for major projects to resume.
Yet economic activity alone cannot guarantee stability. Communities need reliable protection, access to public services and confidence that security institutions will act lawfully. Police training and stronger coordination between agencies must therefore translate into measurable improvements in everyday safety.
Mozambique’s December firearms deadline offers the government an opportunity to reduce the number of illegally held weapons. Its success will depend not only on the threat of forced collection, but also on public trust, transparent implementation and respect for the rights of citizens.
As authorities prepare to move from amnesty to enforcement, the central test will be whether a firmer security approach can deliver safer communities while upholding the rule of law.
