This evening, the Interior Ministry reported the physical disappearance of the Director General of the State Intelligence and Security Service (SISE), Bernardo Constantino Lidimba.

According to Pascoal Ronda, head of the ministerial portfolio, Lidimba was the victim of a road accident in Mapai district, Gaza province, between 3.30pm and 4pm.

It was a hit-and-run traffic accident, recorded by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, he explained.

In the same accident, one of his companions was injured and is receiving medical attention.

The Minister also said that the Director of SISE was on duty and that work was underway to determine the circumstances of the accident.

Bernardo Libimba was appointed Director General of SISE by the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, in May 2022, replacing Júlio dos Santos Jane, who had been appointed in 2017 to replace Lagos Lidimo.

Ronda promised to provide more details in due course.