Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an investigation into the alleged use of tear gas by police forces during the funeral of a popular rapper known for his criticism of the Mozambique government. Edson da Luz, also known as Azagaia, died suddenly last week, prompting vigils across Angola and Mozambique. HRW claims that police dispersed mourners using tear gas during his funeral procession on Tuesday. The group has urged the government to investigate the incident. Thousands of people joined the procession, with songs by the late singer heard throughout Maputo, the country’s capital. Videos on social media showed the crowd singing Vampiros (Vampires), a song that compares corrupt leaders to vampires. Witnesses reported that police fired tear gas without warning as mourners approached the president’s official residence, an area off limits to pedestrians.
HRW collected accounts from several witnesses and monitored the event via social and local media, confirming the use of tear gas. The group has called for an impartial investigation to determine whether officials unnecessarily used tear gas and to hold them accountable. According to United Nations guidelines on the use of less lethal weapons to enforce the law, tear gas should not be used to disperse non-violent demonstrations. HRW has called on Mozambique police responsible for safety and security at funeral processions or other public gatherings to always abide by human rights standards for the use of force.
The incident highlights concerns about human rights in Mozambique, which has experienced political instability and violence in recent years. In 2019, Amnesty International accused Mozambique’s security forces of committing grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention, in the context of an ongoing conflict in the northern Cabo Delgado province. The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused a humanitarian crisis.
Azagaia was known for his socially conscious lyrics and criticism of corruption and injustice in Mozambique. His death has been widely mourned by fans and fellow musicians in Mozambique and Angola. The rapper had released several albums and won numerous awards for his music. He was also an activist and advocate for social justice, using his platform to raise awareness about issues such as poverty, inequality, and human rights abuses.
The alleged use of tear gas at Azagaia’s funeral has sparked outrage among his supporters and human rights activists. Many have taken to social media to express their anger and demand accountability from the government. Some have also criticised the police for using excessive force and violating the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The incident highlights the need for Mozambique to respect human rights and ensure that its security forces are held accountable for any abuses they commit. It also underscores the importance of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in a democratic society. As HRW has noted, authorities must always abide by human rights standards for the use of force, particularly in the context of public gatherings such as funerals. Failure to do so risks undermining public trust in law enforcement and exacerbating tensions between citizens and the state.