Mozambique capital, Maputo, witnessed a tense standoff on Monday as riot police used tear gas to disperse a crowd protesting alleged electoral fraud. The incident occurred just days after two opposition allies were shot dead, further escalating tensions following the October 9 election.
Several hundred protesters, including journalists, scattered as heavily armed police marched down a main street. Reports indicate some officers fired handguns to disperse the crowd, with bullets hitting two journalists and a security guard, though the injuries were not serious.
The protests were organized by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who ran for president and has disputed the initial results showing the ruling Frelimo party ahead. He called for a general strike to contest the election outcome, and businesses in Maputo remained closed, with helicopters hovering overhead.
Mondlane, who was among those dispersed by police, posted a video on Facebook showing himself running away from tear gas, surrounded by supporters. He claimed police had tried to prevent him from attending the demonstration, stating that he had been held at his home for an hour before escaping.
Tensions had already been heightened over the weekend following the fatal shootings of two Mondlane associates in Maputo. Lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, a candidate from the Podemos party, which supports Mondlane, were killed while in a car, allegedly surrounded by other vehicles.
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The European Union, African Union, and United Nations have condemned the killings and urged authorities to identify the perpetrators. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for calm and restraint, while the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed “deep concern” over the post-election violence.
Election Results
Official results from the presidential and parliamentary elections are still pending, but the electoral commission has declined to address accusations of fraud. US-based observers have raised concerns about the election’s adherence to democratic standards, citing reports of vote buying, intimidation, and inflated voter rolls.
The low voter turnout reported in the coastal country of some 33 million people could further erode the legitimacy of the election.
President Filipe Nyusi is stepping down after two terms, and his party’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, is widely expected to win. Other presidential candidates include Ossufo Momade of Renamo, and Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement.
Mondlane, who has already declared victory, claimed his call for a general protest on Monday was a “great success,” stating that 95% of public and private services were paralyzed across the country. He reported strikes taking place in several cities including Chimoio, Nampula, Beira, and Maputo.
Source: Al Jazeera
