The Maputo court acquitted the six students who were on trial for contempt of the authorities, after they promoted a march against "inhumane conditions" at the boarding school of the School of Nautical Sciences.

"This case, in fact, probably shouldn't even have been tried, it shouldn't have gotten here," said the judge in charge of the case, quoted by Lusa, after announcing on Monday the decision to acquit the defendants of the crime of disobedience of which they were accused.

He also pointed to a "lack of evidence" and claimed that "there was excess in the arrest of the students", even saying that, when heard in court, the police officer was unable to "explain" how he "arrived at the crime of disobedience".

At issue is the case of six students, who were detained from October 2 to 5, when they were released by decision of the Maputo City Judicial Court, under an identity and residence permit

The group of students was arrested on the school grounds after organizing a march to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, which oversees the institution, to demand better conditions at the boarding school, writes Lusa.