SATSA – Mozambique Update

Sporadic unrest following Mozambique's October election results has continued, fuelled by opposition leaders’ calls for nationwide protests until Thursday, 7 November.

On Tuesday, 5 November the country’s Border Management Authority (BMA) announced the temporary closure of the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia Border Post due to safety concerns on the Mozambican side (including reports of vehicles being torched). According to their statement, Mozambican authorities and South African law enforcement agencies are monitoring the situation and will reopen the border as soon as it is safe to do so – advising that people avoid the border post until further notice.

Thankfully, to date, key tourism destinations remain unaffected but there have been more reports of unrest in urban areas.

SATSA has urged travellers reconsidering their travel plans to delay rather than cancel, as cancelling trips could have far-reaching impact on Mozambique’s tourism industry.

“This is a challenging time for our regional tourism partners,” says SATSA CEO David Frost. “We recommend that people avoid travel over the next two days – and that visitors and operators remain flexible, rescheduling trips wherever possible.”

Visitors currently in the country should exercise increased caution, stay away from crowds, monitor media reports and travel advisories, and be prepared for potential disruptions until at least the end of the week.

“We know that banks and shops were closed on Thursday and Friday last week, and that there are reports of Internet and social media blackouts,” says Frost. “Opposition leaders suggested that the week-long protest action would culminate in a mass demonstration in Maputo on Thursday, 7 November. While we hope things remain calm, it’s difficult to predict. So, the message to travellers remains: stay vigilant, stay safe and follow the advice of your accommodation providers, operators and travel partners in Mozambique.”