Mozambique denies Amnesty's torture claims

By Jose Tembe

Mozambique’s military has denied accusations of human rights violations levelled against it by Amnesty International over its fight against an Islamist insurgency in the gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado.

The campaign group had earlier this week accused Mozambican soldiers of murder, torture, ill-treatment of prisoners, possible extrajudicial executions and the transport and discarding of a large number of corpses into apparent mass graves.

It relied on what its termed as "verified" footage and photos from the region showing crimes against detainees.

But Mozambique's defence ministry spokesman, Omar Saranga, said Amnesty didn't take into account the production of such materials by insurgents to discredit the military,

He also accused Amnesty International of "remaining silent to the barbarism that has plagued Cabo Delgado province since 2017".

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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