attacks, restrictions on access to places and sources of information, seizure of journalists’ equipment and other limitations on press freedom committed by various political actors as well as security forces under the command of the ruling party, Frelimo. Violations related As Chart to elections 42 percent of the cases Violations out of 2 indicates, Violations related to elections 42% the electoral were related to the electoral cycle — which process translates to 11 of the 28 cases recorded being Violations out of the electoral 58% linked to electoral violations andprocess five of these cases took place on the day of voting — 11 October. Thus, the monitoring carried out by the Another four of the cases took place between Mozambican chapter of the Media Institute voting and the day of the announcement of final of Southern Africa (MISA Mozambique), results by the Constitutional Council. Source: Elaboration of the author indicated that, after a slight improvement in the the Chart 2These indicates, 42% of the cases were related the electoral - which country’s landscape in 2022, the frameworkAs for attacks took on ato range ofcycle different translates to 11 of the 28 cases recorded being linked to electoral violations and five of press freedoms and expression, deteriorated forms - from repression, intimidation, seizure these cases took place on the day of voting 11 October. Another four of the cases took once more, largely due to the tension and of equipment, to physical attacks and included place between voting and the day of the announcement of final results by the Constitutional Thus, the monitoring carried out by the Mozambican chapterlocal of the Media Institute of violence associated with elections. at least one death, João Chamusse, a journalist Council. These attacks took on a range of different forms - from repression, intimidation, Southern Africa (MISA Mozambique), indicated that, after a slight improvement in the MISA Mozambique’s press freedom violation assassinated unclear circumstances. seizure of equipment, to physicalin attacks and included at least one death, João Chamusse, a country’s landscape in 2022, the framework for press freedoms and expression, monitoring system detected a doubling of media journalist assassinated in unclear circumstances. deteriorated once more, largely due to the tension and violence associated with local freedom violations in 2023. elections. MISA Mozambique's press freedom violation monitoring system detected a Chart 3: The main forms of attack against press freedom in 2023 doubling of media freedom violations in 2023. https://www.csis.org/analysis/winning-cabohttps://www.csis.org/analysis/winning-cabo-delgado delgado Chart 1. Violations against journalists in Mozambique -2022-2023 12% 8% 21% Agressions Intimidations Impedment of media coverage Cyberattacks 17% 25% 17% Lawsuits Conditioning media coverage 28% Cases in 2022 Cases in 2023 72% Source: Elaboration of the author Source: Elaboration Source: Source: Elaboration ofElaboration the author of the author Most of the violationsof against freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the right Most the violations against freedom of to information in 2023, including several journalists raped or inhibited from exercising their the press, freedom of expression and the profession (situations recorded all over the country) were related to the elections7. right to information in 2023, including several journalists raped or inhibited from exercising their profession (situations recorded all over the country) were related to the elections. (7) Chart 2. Elections related cases 7 Violations related https://www.misa.org.mz/index.php/destaques/noticias/193-comunicado-misa-condena-agressoes-contra-jornalistas-e-restricoes-a-liberdade-de-imprensa to elections Violations out of the electoral process 58% 42% Source:Source: Elaboration ofElaboration the author Violations related to elections Violations out of the electoral process of the author of the author Chart 3 shows that intimidation (6), assaults (5 cases), impediment of media coverage (4), cyber attacks (4), conditioning/limiting media coverage (3) and lawsuits (2) were the most common types of media violations in 2023. These are attacks on the freedom of the press that go against the principles and legislation that Mozambique has passed or adopted, both at national and international level. Both the constitution and Press Law (No.18/91) protect the freedom of press, as a fundamental right in the country. As if that were not enough, the Mozambican constitution states that constitutional provisions relating to fundamental rights shall be interpreted and integrated in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. While the UDHR recommends that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression (art. 19), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights states that Everyone has the As the Chart 2 indicates, 42% of the cases were related to the electoral cycle - which translates to 11 of the 28 cases recorded being linked to electoral violations and five of these cases took place on the day of voting - 11 October. Another four of the cases took 55 place between voting and the day of the announcement of final results by the Constitutional STATE OF PRESS FREEDOM IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 2023