Agents from the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) are accused of murdering three civilian citizens, including a teacher, for refusing to hand over their cell phones, recently (on Friday, 9), in the town of Mocímboa da Praia, in Cabo Delgado province.

"... the three victims were questioned by UIR agents in the Pamunda neighborhood at around 7pm, who demanded their cell phones. But the victims refused to give up their phones, which led the agents to shoot them at point-blank range," writes the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD).

The NGO reveals that after murdering the citizens, the agents left the scene, abandoning the bodies, where they remained until the following Saturday morning.

One of the victims was a primary school teacher at Milamba school, and in recent days he has been teaching at a school outside the main town. "But he lived in Pamunda, the district where he was shot dead. His body was transferred and buried in the village of Nacololo, in the district of Ancuabe, his hometown."

As a result of these events, teachers and state employees are worried about their safety in Mocímboa da Praia, where they have been forced by the district government to return under pain of reprisals if they don't comply with the order. The local population is also living in uncertainty.

"Last Sunday afternoon, some local leaders went to present their concerns about insecurity to the Mocímboa da Praia District Administrator," the NGO reveals.

The previous week, residents reported the death of a young man in Mocímboa da Praia, who had allegedly been attacked by a group of soldiers from the Defense and Security Forces. "The group transported the body in a vehicle and left it in a place far from the barracks, after which it was found by local residents."

For these and other reasons, the population's sympathy for the Rwandan forces is growing by leaps and bounds.