As we convene here in Addis Ababa for the Regional Dialogue on the Mandate of the Net- work of African National Human Rights Institutions, it is both timely and urgent that we reflect on the state of human rights across our continent, especially on this International Human Rights Day.
Today, I argue a stark truth: when human rights are ignored, nations embark on a danger- ous path—one that leads to failure, conflict, and collapse.
Mozambique, once a promising nation—a beacon of post-war democratic reform and economic growth—stands today as a cautionary tale. A country that once inspired hope is now perilously close to being described as the “Haiti of Africa.” Political turmoil, economic inequality, and widespread human rights abuses have eroded its stability and dimmed the promise of its democratic gains.
