Mano Shottas, a young Mozambican known for his active presence on social media, was fatally shot on Thursday night in Ressano Garcia, one of the main border crossings between Mozambique and South Africa.

His death occurred live during a Facebook broadcast, where he was documenting the violent clashes between protesters and security forces. His final words were immortalized as a cry of despair, forever recorded by the thousands of people who watched theLive"

“I was shot, I’m dying…”.

The footage, which quickly spread across social media, shows the moment the young man is shot in the back while harshly criticizing police actions that launched tear gas in residential areas.

The video, interrupted by a black screen and Mano Shottas' desperate pleas for help, became a symbol of growing discontent with police violence in the country.

This incident occurs amid intense political and social unrest in Mozambique, where protests against the October 9 election results have already claimed more than 110 lives. Mano Shottas' death has reignited tensions in Ressano Garcia and raises questions about the authorities' limits in managing popular demonstrations in the country.

Mano Shottas, described as a blogger dedicated to the community, was documenting abuses committed by security forces at the Ressano Garcia border crossing. At the time of his shooting, he was reporting that police were firing tear gas into inhabited homes, many of which housed children.

Unfortunately, his last broadcast captured more than police violence and the anger and pain of a people tired of repression; it captured his death live.

"There are children there. They're shooting tear gas. I don't know what country we're living in. I can't keep recording... I was shot... people, I left, they shot me."

“Help, help…they shot me back here, I can’t turn around.”

“Guys, I got shot, I got shot and they keep shooting, they keep shooting…”

Those were Mano Shottas' last words before his phone screen went completely black. But amidst the screams of the people around him and the sounds of gunshots, and with his phone screen already completely black, the young man could still be heard saying in a faint voice:

“I was shot, I’m dying…”.

These last words of his deeply impacted the audience, provoking emotional reactions both locally and globally.

After the fatal shooting, the situation in Ressano Garcia became even more chaotic. Residents set fire to infrastructure, including government offices, in an act of outrage over the young man's death.

“It is another barbaric act and the police must answer for it.”

“We are organizing an action against the State in this regard.”

“This is further proof that it is violent police action that generates outrage among people.”

Said André Mulungo, editor of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDDH) newsletter.

Adriano Nuvunga, director of the CDDH, is already providing legal support to the blogger's family and has raised suspicions about the police's true intentions, highlighting a link between their actions and economic interests.

“It was the soldiers from the Rapid Intervention Unit who fired to protect the trucks belonging to the transport company of the Minister of Public Works, Carlos Mesquita,” stated.

This fact has sparked further criticism of the state's management of the protests and fueled theories of deliberate repression to defend private interests. The Ressano Garcia border has been blocked in recent days by protesters contesting the October 9 election results, preventing trucks from South Africa from entering Mozambique.

Also this Thursday, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, said that some actions were underway to protect the corridors and that the government is working with its South African counterpart to try to create protection belts along the Maputo corridor, to ensure that goods continue to flow from South Africa to international markets.

Activist Cídia Chissungo managed to record the live broadcast and shared it on social media, such as X, recording the blogger's last words. The incident sparked a wave of solidarity and outrage on social media, with activists, ordinary citizens, and organizations denouncing police brutality and demanding justice.

Mano Shottas' death comes amidst electoral protests. For over 50 days, Mozambique has been rocked by demonstrations and violent clashes with the police, which have already resulted in more than 110 deaths. According to the General Command of the Republic of Mozambique Police, in the last seven days alone, 16 people have died, including four police officers, and 73 have been injured.

The protests have been called by candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who claims he won the October 9 elections, while the National Electoral Commission awards the victory to Daniel Chapo, supported by FRELIMO, the party in power for 49 years. Since then, the country has been the scene of massive demonstrations, met with violent repression by the police.

These events have highlighted the fragility of the rule of law in Mozambique, and organizations such as the CDDH have already promised to launch legal action against the State.

Mano Shottas' death is much more than an individual tragedy; it reflects the social and political instability plaguing Mozambique. His courage in exposing abuses by security forces cost him his life, but it also raised collective awareness about the limits of state violence.

Mano Shottas' final scream – “I’m dying…” —shouts deep within people's consciousness, like a call for change. It remains to be seen whether this tragedy will be a catalyst for reform or just another forgotten chapter in the history of a country divided by political and economic interests.