Mozambique’s Attorney General Americo Letela has publicly acknowledged the government’s inability to contain the surge in kidnappings, blaming the involvement of elements within the country’s police and judiciary for undermining efforts to curb the crime.
Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Letela stated that organized criminal networks have infiltrated the justice system, with some police officers and magistrates playing active roles in planning and facilitating abductions. “These crimes are orchestrated by organized groups that penetrate institutions responsible for enforcing the law, making it difficult to combat them,” he said.
Mozambique, along with South Africa, is among the countries worst affected by kidnapping-for-ransom in the region. According to Borges Nthamire of the South African Institute for Security Studies, the crime has persisted for nearly 20 years, primarily targeting wealthy businesspeople of Asian origin. He alleged that victims are often held for extended periods and tortured until ransoms are paid.
The Interior Ministry has recorded at least 250 kidnapping cases since 2011. In a recent statement, Interior Minister Paul Chachime revealed ongoing efforts to cleanse the police of criminal collaborators. Since early 2024, over 500 officers have faced disciplinary proceedings, with 73 expelled.
The Confederation of Mozambican Business Association (CTA) estimates that over the past decade, more than 150 businesspeople have been abducted, leading around 100 to flee the country. CTA officials warn that the continued threat is damaging investor confidence and economic stability.
The Mozambican Financial Intelligence Office estimates the “kidnapping industry” has generated over $33 million since 2014, prompting calls for the government to establish a specialized anti-kidnapping unit and invest heavily in law enforcement reforms.