The Minister of the Interior, Arsénia Massingue, told Parliament yesterday that since January there have been 11 kidnappings and 27 arrests in connection with the crimes.

"The victims are in their families, with the exception of the cases that occurred in Maputo city on October 3 and November 1," she said during the second day of questions to the government.

Of this number, seven kidnappings were recorded in Maputo city and the rest in other regions.

According to the source, most of the 27 detainees allegedly involved in the cases are in Sofala province (12), followed by Maputo with 10 detainees and Nampula with five.

"During the period in question, six individuals were also arrested in connection with previous cases," the minister added.

Arsénia Massingue said that efforts and resources have been made to identify and hold accountable those involved in the kidnappings, with the aim of "restoring an environment of security for citizens".

Maputo and other cities, especially the provincial capitals, have once again been the scene of a wave of kidnappings since 2020, mainly targeting businesspeople or their families.

The Attorney General, Beatriz Buchili, said in May, quoted by Lusa, that "some" police officers, investigators, lawyers and magistrates are suspected of involvement in the kidnappings, adding that the crimes have been increasing and that in some cases there are ramifications with South Africa.