MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the humanitarian situation in Mozambique

15.9.2020 - (2020/2784(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Assita Kanko, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Ryszard Czarnecki, Charlie Weimers, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Alexandr Vondra, Bogdan Rzońca, Joanna Kopcińska, Valdemar Tomaševski, Elżbieta Kruk, Angel Dzhambazki, Emmanouil Fragkos
on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0300/2020

B9‑0301/2020

European Parliament resolution on the humanitarian situation in Mozambique

(2020/2784(RSP))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the statement by the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on stopping extremist violence in northern Mozambique of 29 June 2020,

— having regard to the European Council Conclusions on Mozambique of 22 April 2020,

— having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2019: Mozambique of 15 July 2020,

— having regard to the 28th Political Dialogue between the EU and Mozambique of 5 June 2020,

— having regard to the final report by the European Union Election Observation Mission to Mozambique of 1 September 2020,

— having regard to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Mozambique Situation Report of 29 June 2020,

— having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

— having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966,

— having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

— having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since October 2017 militant Islamist groups, including the locally known al-Shabaab group, have attacked religious, civilian and government buildings; whereas in some occasions the militants stole weapons from Mozambican troops;

B. whereas Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique has seen an increase in violence, whereby the first half of 2020 saw more attacks than the entirety of 2019;

C. whereas the conflict in the course of hostilities has killed more than 1,000 people were killed, displaced more than 211,000 were internally displaced and more than 700,000 people in Cabo Delgado were affected in other ways;

D. whereas people have been kidnapped by the armed groups, especially young girls, and their whereabouts remain unknown, which increases the fears for their safety; whereas more than 40% of Mozambican women aged 20-24 have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives;

E. whereas videos and pictures have emerged showing attempted beheading, torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners, alleged extrajudicial executions and the transport and discarding of a large number of corpses into apparent mass graves by Mozambican security forces;

F. whereas the Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi admitted ‘involuntary violations’ of human rights by the authorities in Cabo Delgado;

G. whereas the Islamic State and other militant groups from Kenya and Tanzania have cooperated with the locally known al-Shabaab militant group;

H. whereas Moambique is one of the poorest countries in the world and is highly vulnerable to climate shocks; whereas in 2020 a total of 7.9 million people are estimated to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance;

I. whereas consecutive crises and continued destruction of livelihoods have caused widespread food insecurity in Mozambique, with over 43 per cent of children under the age of 5 facing malnourishment and stunted growth; 

1. Stands in solidarity with all civilians affected by the violence and the on-going humanitarian disaster;

2. Expresses grave concern about the continuously deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Cabo Delgado province and strongly condemns the terrorist attacks and human rights violations; calls for a swift independent and impartial investigation to bring all those responsible to justice;

3. Calls on the Mozambican authorities to take effective and decisive action in countering the Islamist insurgence and to protect all citizens of Cabo Delgado; strongly condemns the alleged attempted beheadings, torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners, extrajudicial executions and the transport and discarding of a large number of corpses into apparent mass graves by the Mozambican security forces;

4. Underscores the importance of the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement of August 2019 and its implementation, including the importance of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, as well as effective decentralisation, which are crucial for a long-lasting reconciliation;

5. Calls on the Mozambican authorities to ensure the promotion of democracy, human rights, effective local governance and the effective restoration of the rule of law in northern Mozambique;

6. Expresses its readiness to engage in a dialogue with the Mozambican authorities to support relevant cross-border cooperation between Mozambique an its neighbours, including assistance for strengthened counter-terrorism cooperation;

7. Stands ready to work with the Mozambican authorities to promote sustainable economic transformation and diversification, and to support Mozambique in the necessary economic and political governance reforms;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Mozambique and the Secretary General of the African Union.