A group of unknown assailants shot and killed Abudo Bacar Lawia, head of district mobilization for the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) party in Montepuez. The crime took place at around 8pm last Friday (03), outside his girlfriend's home.

According to a publication by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), Abudo Lawia's girlfriend reports in a video circulated on social media that the couple were standing outside their yard when two men wearing the uniform of the Local Force, a force set up by the government to help fight terrorism, approached Abudo Lawia.

Initially, says his girlfriend, "Abudo Lawia thought the officers were carrying out their duties, considering the insecurity situation affecting the northern region of Mozambique". However, the two men ended up shooting Abudo Lawia, who lost his life on the spot.

The tragic event comes at a time of growing tension in the context of the post-election crisis, due to allegations of electoral fraud that gave victory to the Frelimo party in the October 9 elections, whose results were announced on October 24 by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and validated by the Constitutional Council on December 23. PODEMOS, the party to which Abudo Lawia belonged, disputes the results of those elections.