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Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has announced that authorities will begin the compulsory collection of illegally held firearms after the voluntary surrender campaign ends in December 2026. The measure is expected to take effect in January 2027, following the expiration of the amnesty period granted to citizens possessing unregistered or illegally held weapons.
The announcement was made on Friday, 9 October, during the closing ceremony of the 20th Training Course for Special Operations and Reserve Units of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), held in Macandzene, Manhiça District, Maputo Province.
According to Chapo, citizens who voluntarily surrender firearms during the designated period, under Operation Amnesty Two, will not be questioned, detained or punished for handing over their weapons.
However, the Head of State warned that once the deadline expires, authorities will move from voluntary surrender to compulsory collection, applying the measures provided for under existing legislation.
The campaign aims to reduce the circulation of illegal and homemade firearms, which are considered among the factors contributing to crime in the country. The initiative also seeks to encourage public cooperation with law enforcement agencies in preventing crime and strengthening public security.
During the ceremony, Chapo urged PRM officers to demonstrate discipline, professionalism and respect for the law, stressing that specialised training does not place members of the police force above legal obligations.
The President emphasised that strengthening the operational capacity of special police units must be accompanied by high standards of accountability, ensuring that police operations respect human rights and citizens' fundamental freedoms.
In his address, Chapo warned of the growing complexity of crime in Mozambique, highlighting threats such as terrorism, human and drug trafficking, kidnappings, organised crime and cybercrime.
In response to these challenges, he called for stronger cooperation between the PRM and other Defence and Security Forces through improved operational coordination and intelligence sharing.
Regarding the security situation in Cabo Delgado, the Head of State said conditions had improved compared with two years earlier, attributing the progress to operations carried out by Mozambican forces with support from Rwandan and Tanzanian troops.
Despite these improvements, he acknowledged that the terrorist threat continues to require sustained efforts to protect communities and maintain stability in the province.
Chapo also reiterated the importance of continued investment in police training, describing public security as essential to preserving peace, defending national sovereignty and supporting the country's economic development.
With the amnesty deadline set to expire in December, the Government is urging citizens in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them voluntarily before the announced compulsory collection phase begins.
The Bank of Mozambique has extended by another six months the requirement for exporters to convert 50% of their export earnings into the national currency, in a move aimed at increasing foreign currency availability within the financial system. The decision took effect on 9 October, extending the exceptional regime introduced in April 2025.
The Mozambican Government has introduced new rules into its petroleum legislation to prevent the State from bearing financial costs arising from project suspensions caused by force majeure events. The measure follows disagreements with French multinational TotalEnergies, which claimed an additional $4.5 billion in costs associated with the suspension of the Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado.
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday, 11 October, that he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule detected in one of his lungs during recent medical examinations. The operation is expected to take place in the coming days at Gemelli University Hospital in Rome.
Three people died on Sunday morning, 11 October, after a fire completely destroyed the CHAMBO passenger vessel, which operates between Mbamba Bay in Tanzania and Metangula in Mozambique's Niassa Province. The vessel was carrying 43 people, including crew members, when the incident occurred.
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A massive fire destroyed a supermarket and three warehouses in the Zimpeto neighbourhood of Maputo, putting more than 100 jobs at risk. The blaze broke out on the evening of Saturday, 10 October, and continued until Sunday afternoon, requiring several firefighting teams to battle the flames for approximately 17 hours.
Three Mozambican citizens who fell victim to human trafficking in the Central African Republic have returned home following several weeks of diplomatic efforts involving authorities from both countries and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The victims have been in Manica Province, their home region, since Thursday, 8 October.
The Maputo Juvenile Court is scheduled to hear the case of a 13-year-old boy accused of killing his 12-year-old neighbour, known as Edy, in the Militar neighbourhood of Maputo, on Thursday, 15 October. Under Mozambican law, children under the age of 16 cannot be held criminally responsible, although they may be subject to educational and corrective measures.
Mozambique's National Communications Institute (INCM) has expressed concern over the growing number of companies and individuals providing parcel and correspondence delivery services without the required licences, at a time when only 38 postal operators are legally authorised to operate in the country.
