A protest by members of Maputo’s Nigerian community on Tuesday highlighted a dispute over the detention of 42 Nigerian nationals by Mozambican authorities. The demonstrators gathered outside the Nigerian Embassy, demanding explanations for what they described as the “illegal detention” of their compatriots.
The individuals were apprehended last week during a nationwide operation by the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic) targeting a network involved in trafficking stolen vehicle parts. Community representatives argued that the detentions were unlawful and called for the immediate release of those held. “Our Nigerian brothers were detained illegally. If they committed any crime, they must be taken to court,” stated a community spokesperson. The group urged the Nigerian Embassy to intervene with Mozambican officials to clarify the legal status of the detainees.
Sernic provided a differing account, stating that the Nigerian citizens were detained not for involvement in the stolen parts trade, but for violating immigration laws by residing in the country without valid documentation. The service indicated that the individuals must regularize their immigration status or face deportation. Sernic also rejected claims that its operation exclusively targeted Nigerians, noting that Mozambican nationals were among those arrested in the same crackdown.
The agency further criticized a statement from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), which characterized the incident as “distasteful, disturbing and unacceptable, selective and xenophobic.” Sernic asserted that its actions were law enforcement operations against criminal activity, not acts of discrimination.
The protest underscores tensions between immigration enforcement and diaspora communities in Mozambique. While authorities maintain the detentions are a matter of legal compliance, community leaders frame them as unjust and demand transparency. The Nigerian Embassy’s response and the subsequent legal proceedings for the 42 individuals will likely determine the next steps in this case.
The incident reflects broader challenges regarding undocumented migration and cross-border crime in Southern Africa, where enforcement actions often intersect with concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals.
