Pakistani national kidnapped in 2022 found dead in Maputo

The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mozambique announced in a statement on Tuesday the identification of the body of a Pakistani citizen kidnapped in 2022 in the city of Maputo.

The body of Munawar Ahmed Ali, who was kidnapped on October 3, 2022, was found buried in the backyard of the house where the victim was being held captive, PGR said in a statement.

“Following an investigation, the buried body was identified and preliminary examinations revealed characteristics similar to those of the victim,” the Mozambique prosecutor’s office said in a document.

The SGR has opened cases against four people, one is now in preventive detention, the rest are on the run.

“The accused are accused of committing crimes related to kidnapping, use of prohibited weapons and criminal association, without the victim returning to family life,” the PGR document added, which also indicated that the group was accused of other crimes. of the same nature in other processes.

Since 2011, Mozambique has been plagued by a wave of kidnappings, mostly affecting businessmen and their families.

According to officials, since January 2023, Mozambican authorities have detained 38 people involved in a wave of kidnappings in the country, with a total of 13 cases recorded during the same period.

In Maputo alone, two kidnappings have already been recorded this year.

After a period of relative stability, cases have been reported again in recent years, mainly in provincial capitals, with a particular focus on Maputo.

Mozambican authorities have repeatedly acknowledged the involvement of police and judges in these crimes, the consequences of which extend to neighboring South Africa, a country with which Mozambique has strong relations.