Mozambican President Daniel Chapo demanded high vigilance from the police today to prevent kidnappers from breaching the “security wall” established against abductions. Highlighting that no cases have been recorded so far this year, the head of state reaffirmed that combating this wave of crime remains an absolute priority for the nation.
“During these months in which the situation has normalized, criminals are likely devising tricks to breach the security wall set up by the state,” Chapo warned in Maputo. His remarks were delivered during a congratulatory address to the corporate force on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM). “It is imperative that you continue to maintain a high level of vigilance against kidnappings.”
The head of state noted that while the results achieved in recent months against abductions are highly encouraging, authorities must not rest on their laurels or believe that the crime has vanished into history. Chapo emphasized that the fight against kidnappings must remain an absolute priority, adding that these directives apply not only to the PRM but to all forces and institutions within the Mozambican security architecture.
In April, President Chapo stated that Mozambique had gone six consecutive months without a single recorded kidnapping case, underlining that the improved security climate bolsters confidence and attracts both domestic and foreign investments.
Read more about this topic: Mozambique has no recorded kidnapping cases in six months
Statistics reveal that at least 40 people were arrested in Mozambique in 2025 for involvement in abductions, resulting in 14 convictions. To further disincentivize the practice, the attorney general previously suggested freezing the bank accounts and assets of victims’ families to prevent the mobilization of financial resources for ransom payments.
The economic impact of the criminal wave has been substantial over the last decade. According to data released by the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), approximately 100 investors have left the country over the past 12 years out of fear of abductions.
Since the first recorded cases of these crimes emerged in Mozambique in 2010, the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) estimates that around 300 individuals involved in kidnapping networks have been detained.
