THE death toll in Mozambique’s ongoing post-election violence has risen to 27, following the killing of three demonstrators on Thursday in Maputo, the capital. Hospital officials confirmed the deaths, as the country grapples with increasing unrest following controversial election results.
Since the National Election Commission (CNE) declared Daniel Chapo of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) as the winner of the October 24 election with 70 percent of the vote, opposition protests have erupted across major cities and towns. Opponent Venancio Mondlane, who received 20 percent of the vote, has disputed the outcome, calling for a week-long general strike from October 31 to November 7. The protests, however, have been met with a heavy response from security forces.
Protests turn violent
Protests erupted in Maputo and beyond on Thursday, with demonstrators flooding the streets in response to Mondlane’s call for mass action. The police, in turn, deployed armoured vehicles and used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Reports indicate that three protesters were shot and later died in hospital, raising the death toll to 27, according to local health officials. Prior to this, human rights groups had reported 24 fatalities linked to the unrest, which also saw the deaths of opposition leaders Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe on October 19.
International condemnation
Human rights organisations have expressed grave concern over the situation. Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International’s regional representative for East and Southern Africa, called the violence ‘outrageous, concerning, and regrettable.’ She condemned the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters and reiterated calls for an immediate end to the violence.
Mondlane, in a Facebook message, vowed to continue the demonstrations until the government ‘accepts the truth’ about the election results. The opposition leader’s defiance, alongside calls for more strikes and protests, signals that unrest is unlikely to subside in the near future.
Government’s response and media protests
In an attempt to curtail the spread of protest-related information, the Mozambican government has repeatedly shut down internet services and blocked access to social media platforms. This move, however, has only heightened tensions, drawing international criticism.
In response to the violent crackdown, members of the media staged a protest march on Wednesday, calling for all political factions to cease the violence and engage in peaceful dialogue. The journalists’ march underlined growing frustration with both the government’s handling of the unrest and the lack of political resolution.
Looking ahead
As Mozambique’s post-election violence continues to claim lives, the country faces a precarious political and social landscape. With opposition leaders like Mondlane maintaining their defiance, and human rights organisations calling for accountability, it is unclear when the unrest will end. What is clear, however, is that Mozambique’s path to stability will depend heavily on the resolution of the political crisis and the protection of citizens’ right to peacefully protest.
