It is with deep sadness that the Presidency, World Secretariat and members of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) have learned of the passing of Mahamudo Amurane, Mayor of Nampula, Mozambique, who was assassinated yesterday, 4 October.

It is with deep sadness that the Presidency, World Secretariat and members of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) have learned of the passing of Mahamudo Amurane, Mayor of Nampula, Mozambique, who was assassinated yesterday, 4 October.

The global UCLG family wishes to express our sincere condolences to Mr Amurane’s family, friends and colleagues following this tragic incident. Our thoughts are also with all of those who had the opportunity to experience his great public action for local authorities.  

A remarkably active member of the international movement of local and regional government networks, Mahamudo Amurane contributed greatly to our world organization.

Under his leadership, the municipality of Nampula carried out an exchange on decentralized cooperation and inclusive urban planning with Guarulhos, Brazil, as part of a European Union project among 15 Brazilian and Mozambican cities, coordinated by UCLG and with support from the Norwegian Government.

Mayor Mahamudo was also committed to fighting corruption; and during the five years of his leadership, the city saw a remarkable transformation, through education, urban planning and public management, in particular.

“I do not want to be the best; but I have to be a mayor who will impress a new dynamic in governance, because the people were left to themselves. […] Through work it is possible to show that things can be done differently and produce results and effective development. A public server does not care about earning money, and cares even less about accumulating personal assets.”

Also under Mayor Mahamundo’s leadership, Nampula, as a member of UCLG’s Working Group on Intermediary Cities, collaborated with the University of UNI Lurio and the UNESCO Chair in Intermediate Cities (CIMES), sharing the experiences gained with other municipalities. Beyond technical exchange and committed to the values of UCLG, the municipality further invested to involve parliamentarians and politicians in decentralization work.

Mahamudo Amurane and his strong engagement in the local and regional government world will be sadly missed.

More information: 

• Read the press release from the National Association of Municipalities of Mozambique