Security officers deployed tear gas against hundreds of supporters of Venancio Mondlane, the main opposition leader of Mozambique, who had gathered at the main international airport to welcome him back from exile. Mondlane was seen disembarking from a plane at Maputo’s Mavalane International Airport. He had left the country in October following a contentious election that plunged Mozambique into chaos and ignited months of violent protests.
Mondlane fled for his life after the assassination of two key members of his opposition party, who were shot by unidentified gunmen in a late-night attack in the wake of the election.
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On Thursday, police also blocked access to roads leading to the airport after Mondlane announced earlier in the week on social media that he would be returning to the southern African nation.
Tear gas drifted over the airport and surrounding roads, and a helicopter was seen hovering overhead. Thousands of Mondlane’s supporters were expected to gather in Maputo for his return, prompting the crackdown by security forces. More than 100 people have been killed by security forces since protests erupted across Mozambique, which Mondlane called for after the long-ruling Frelimo party was declared the winner of the October 9th election.
Mondlane and other opposition candidates have accused the ruling party of rigging the election. International observers have also reported irregularities in the vote and the alteration of some results. Mozambique’s Constitutional Council upheld Frelimo’s victory last month, making its candidate, Daniel Chapo, the president-elect. He is due to be inaugurated next week to succeed President Filipe Nyusi, who has served the maximum two terms. Frelimo has been in power in Mozambique for 50 years since the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
The party has frequently been accused of rigging elections since Mozambique held its first democratic vote in 1994. The recent street protests in several major cities represent the biggest challenge to Frelimo’s rule to date.
Source: cnn
