Mozambique: Unconditionally free detained writer and publisher, Alex Barga
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“The persecution of poet and writer Alex Barga by Mozambican authorities must stop. Editing, publishing and promoting a book are not crimes. And neither is holding critical views about those in power. These are fundamental human rights and freedoms which the Constitution of Mozambique protects for all citizens, independent of politics. Alex Barga should not have been arrested or detained in the first place. His continued detention on a trumped-up charge of plotting a coup is unjust and indefensible. He should be released immediately and unconditionally.” Dr. Ma Thida, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee.
24 June 2025: PEN International is gravely concerned about the safety and wellbeing of Mozambican writer, poet, editor and publisher, Alex Nhabanga, popularly known by his pen name, Alex Barga who has been held in detention since he was arbitrarily arrested in January this year. The organisation believes that his arrest and detention is related to his professional work and non- violent activism and calls on the Mozambican authorities to urgently and unconditionally release him from detention; guarantee his safety and rights to freedom of expression and association.
On 12 January 2025, Mozambican security forces, without warrant or explanation, arrested Alex Barga along with 11 other people in Marracuene District, Maputo Province. The security forces refused to inform their families where they were taking them. For five days, their fate and whereabouts remained unknown until on 17 January when a search by Alex’s family established that Alex had been briefly held at the Maputo Harbour Police station, together with two of his friends - teachers Hilário Cumbe and Narciso Manhice. They also established that Alex had been transferred to the severely crowded Cadeia Central de Maputo (Maputo Central Prison) in the Machava neighbourhood of Maputo, and that he was not allowed to receive visitors.
Following an appeal by a lawyer representing Alex, he was transferred to the less punitive Cadeia Civil Prison in Avenida Kim Il Sung in the Sommerschield neighbourhood of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. His family members have since been allowed to visit him. Alex was subsequently taken before a judge, who confirmed his arrest. In a chilling development, authorities charged Alex with ‘planning a coup d’etat’ and the judge authorized his detention. Authorities have ignored all judicial applications by Alex’s lawyer to release him on bail, a right that he is entitled to under Mozambique’s constitution and laws.
PEN International believes that the authorities of Mozambique are targeting Alex for persecution in retaliation for his role in the publication of the book Um Olhar Sociológico Sobre o Carisma de Venâncio Mondlane (A sociological approach to the charisma of Venâncio Mondlane) authored by the Mozambican sociologist, Mártir das Letras. Venâncio was the main opposition presidential candidate in Mozambique’s 9 October 2024 national elections. The book was edited and promoted by LitterArte Edições, a section of the literary agency, Agência Literária Alex Barga which Alex owns. On 7 October 2024, Alex was part of a team that had planned the launch of the book. PEN International has learned that the Mozambique Prosecutor’s Office ordered the cancellation of the launch event without explanation. Alex and his colleagues disregarded the arbitrary order and continued to promote the book on a sidewalk close to the hotel where the launch had been planned.
The continued arbitrary detention of Alex Barga contradicts Mozambique’s human rights obligations under its own constitution and national laws; the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) and the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Mozambique is a party to. PEN International calls on Mozambican authorities to uphold these obligations by urgently and unconditionally releasing Alex Barga and ensuring his safety and wellbeing.
Further, we urge the authorities to quash all trumped up charges slapped on individuals in the context of the mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful protestors since October 2024, and unconditionally free those still detained like Alex Barga. On the eve of Mozambique’s celebration of 50 years of independence, we urge authorities to live up to their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights and freedoms of all citizens independent of political affiliations.
No one should be arrested, jailed or prosecuted for non-violently protesting or expressing opinions critical of the conduct of public affairs.
Additional Information
Alex Barga is the author of six books, including Leis do Amor (The Laws of Love), a poetry collection. Three of his books have been translated into other languages, making him one of Mozambique’s most translated authors.
The targeting of Alex with arbitrary arrest and detention is illustrative of Mozambique authorities’ policy of weaponisation of the country’s justice system to punish dissent, a pattern which although persistent over Mozambique’s almost 50 years of independence, has sharply spiked over the last year in the period before and after the disputed 9 October 2024 national elections. In the elections, Daniel Chapo of the ruling FRELIMO party was declared winner amid allegations of vote rigging and electoral fraud by the opposition and international observers. Amnesty International and the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) have documented more than 300 unlawful killings by Mozambican security forces in a brutal post-election crackdown on largely peaceful protesters and opposition supporters between October 2024 and January 2025. More than 3000 people were grievously injured from unnecessary or excessive use of force by security forces, and over 4000 people arrested and detained, majority of them arbitrarily.
Note to editors:
For further details contact Nduko o’Matigere, Head of Africa Region at PEN International: [email protected]
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