<p>As
Pope ;Francis,
82, the 266th Pope ;of
the Catholic Church and Head
of the  ;sovereign State of the Vatican
City, embarks on a three-nation tour dubbed
“Apostolic Journeys” in Southern Africa between 4 and 10 September, visiting
Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, Amnesty International has called on him to raise urgent
human rights concerns with the leaders of those this week. </p>



<p>In
a press statement by African Media Agency, AMA, made available to OpenLife, the organization has documented
serious human rights violations in both countries, including the use of
prolonged pretrial detention in inhumane conditions in Madagascar and
escalating assaults on journalists and human rights defenders in Mozambique. They
therefore, call on the Pope
to use his visit to highlight the need for justice and reform.</p>



<p>“The
pomp surrounding Pope Francis’ visit presents an opportunity to shine a
spotlight on human rights violations in Madagascar and Mozambique. In his
meetings with Malagasy and Mozambican authorities, Pope Francis must address
the human rights violations unfolding in the two countries and remind leaders
that the world is watching,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s
Deputy Director for Southern Africa.</p>



<p>“Pope
Francis’ voice on human rights violations in both countries could be a powerful
tool for change. Issues like Madagascar’s use of mass, prolonged pretrial
detention in inhumane conditions and Mozambique’s harassment of journalists
must be squarely on the table this week.”</p>



<p>In
Madagascar, people who have not been tried, let alone found guilty of any crime
are subjected to pre-trial detention for months, and sometimes years. Many are
held in appalling prison conditions on suspicion of having committed only petty
crimes such as stealing a chicken. ; Amnesty International has documented
how, in 2017 alone, 52 out of the 129 detainees who died in Madagascar’s
prisons were in pre-trial detention. In 2018, more than 11,000 people were
arbitrarily placed in pretrial detention. This has resulted in severe
overcrowding which, coupled with shortages of food, grossly inadequate medical
care and unhygienic facilities, is damaging the health of detainees and putting
lives at risk.</p>



<p>The
organization has also documented gruesome killings of suspected cattle
rustlers, often extrajudicially through torture and other violent means, by the
police. The Malagasy authorities must immediately end these attacks,
investigate them and bring perpetrators to justice. Around 4,000 people have
been killed in southern Madagascar in the past five years – including alleged
rustlers, police, soldiers and civilians – in the context of the government’s
crackdown on cattle rustling, according to official figures.</p>



<p>In
Mozambique, brutal attacks in the Cabo Delgado Province by a local militant
group known as ‘Al-Shabab’ has claimed at least 200 lives and forced thousands
of others to flee their homes since October 2017.</p>



<p>Attacks
have continued despite a heavy military presence in affected areas. The
province has become a no-go area for journalists, researchers, scholars and
non-governmental organizations, and many who have tried to access the area have
been arbitrarily detained. Journalist Amade Abubacar spent nearly four months
in arbitrary pre-trial detention for reporting on the attacks and fleeing
residents. While in detention, he was subjected to ill-treatment, including 12
days in incommunicado military detention, denial of family visits and poor
medical treatment.</p>



<p>Ahead of
Mozambique’s election in October, Amnesty International has also documented
cases of intimidation, harassment and threats against civil society
organizations, local journalists and anyone critical of the government. ;</p>

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