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Mozambique Protests Turn Deadly Over Disputed Election

Published

Friday, October 25, 2024 at 06:03 PM

Written by Brenda Izu

Mozambique Protests Turn Deadly Over Disputed Election

In Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, residents woke to scenes of destruction on Friday following a night of violent protests against the recent re-election of the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power for nearly five decades.

According to AFP, the unrest erupted after Mozambique's electoral commission announced on Thursday that Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the October 9 presidential election with 71% of the vote.

Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets, rejecting what they termed a “stolen” election by a “corrupt” electoral authority that they accused of bias in favor of Frelimo.

The opposition, along with international observers, claims irregularities marred the election process, fueling an already tense political climate.

According to local reports, protests were seen in several cities, with demonstrators gathering shortly after the announcement of the election results.

In Maputo, angered citizens set tires ablaze to block main roads and scaled Frelimo’s campaign billboards, tearing them down in acts of defiance. Demonstrators also clashed with anti-riot police, who deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds. The situation escalated as protesters hurled stones at law enforcement, igniting further chaos.

Daniel Chapo, a former provincial governor and a relatively unknown figure on the national stage before his nomination, will succeed outgoing President Filipe Nyusi in January. His swift rise to prominence and landslide victory have been met with skepticism from the opposition, who alleged that his win was orchestrated to maintain Frelimo’s longstanding grip on power.

The main opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, has openly rejected the results, claiming he is the rightful winner. According to official counts, Mondlane garnered just over 20% of the votes, a figure he disputes as manipulated.

In a Facebook live broadcast on Thursday evening, Mondlane denounced the election as fraudulent. “We absolutely reject these results. They do not reflect the will of the people,” he declared, describing the political landscape in Mozambique as “rotten, doctored, and fake.” Mondlane has called for continued protests in what he claims is a fight for transparency and democracy.

A European Union observer mission expressed similar concerns, reporting earlier this month that there were “irregularities during counting” and “a clear bias” favoring Frelimo. These observations have heightened calls for accountability from the international community and raised questions about the legitimacy of Mozambique’s electoral process.

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Mozambique Protests Turn Deadly Over Disputed Election

In Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, residents woke to scenes of destruction on Friday following a night of violent protests against the recent re-election of the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power for nearly five decades.

According to AFP, the unrest erupted after Mozambique's electoral commission announced on Thursday that Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the October 9 presidential election with 71% of the vote.

Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets, rejecting what they termed a “stolen” election by a “corrupt” electoral authority that they accused of bias in favor of Frelimo.

The opposition, along with international observers, claims irregularities marred the election process, fueling an already tense political climate.

According to local reports, protests were seen in several cities, with demonstrators gathering shortly after the announcement of the election results.

The main opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, has openly rejected the results, claiming he is the rightful winner. According to official counts, Mondlane garnered just over 20% of the votes, a figure he disputes as manipulated.

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