Clashes in Mozambique capital as opposition leader calls for protest over election results

Police in Mozambique clashed with protesters in the capital, Maputo, on Thursday after opposition leader Venancio Mondlane urged a demonstration against the results of the country’s recent elections. Security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds as tensions escalated following the October 9 vote, which saw the ruling party, Frelimo secure another term in power.

Mondlane, leader of the opposition, has rejected the election outcome, claiming that the results were manipulated and that he was the true victor. He called for mass protests, describing the situation as a “crucial moment” for Mozambique.

Speaking to AFP from an undisclosed location, Mondlane said, “I feel that there is a revolutionary atmosphere… which shows that we are on the verge of a unique historical and political transition in the country.”

The 50-year-old former radio presenter said he was unable to reveal his exact location, other than to confirm that he was currently outside of Africa.

In response to the growing unrest, the Mozambique Bar Association warned of the potential for widespread violence, stating that the situation created “conditions for a bloodbath” amid the heavy security presence in the capital. As thousands took to the streets in protest, riot police responded with force, using tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

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Maputo, a city of over one million people, appeared largely deserted on Thursday, with businesses, schools, and government offices shut down as the protests continued.

Mondlane, who has rallied supporters through social media to protest the election results, emphasized the importance of “restoring electoral truth.” “Our first objective… is certainly the restoration of electoral truth,” Mondlane told AFP via Zoom late Wednesday. “We want the popular will expressed at the polls on October 9 to be restored.”

He stressed the national and historical importance of his cause, noting that many Mozambicans were now willing to take risks for the sake of political change. “People have realised that it wasn’t possible to bring profound change in Mozambique without taking risks,” Mondlane said. “Now they have to free themselves.”

Post-election violence has claimed the lives of at least 18 people, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), with some local organizations reporting as many as 24 deaths. The unrest has also seen a police officer killed during a protest over the weekend, prompting Defence Minister Cristovao Chume to warn that the army could intervene to protect the state’s interests. “There is an intention to change the democratically established power,” Chume said in a statement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, President Filipe Nyusi, who is expected to step down early next year after two terms in office, is set to hand power over to Daniel Chapo of the Frelimo party, who won the presidential election with 71 percent of the vote, according to the electoral commission.

Mondlane has formally requested a recount from the Constitutional Council, though he has expressed openness to a “government of national unity.” However, authorities have taken steps to limit communication, including widespread internet shutdowns, which Human Rights Watch argues are aimed at curbing public dissent.

The United Nations has raised concerns over the use of excessive force against protesters. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Mozambican authorities to ensure that law enforcement adheres to international human rights standards in managing public demonstrations.

In the wake of the unrest, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced plans to convene an extraordinary summit between November 16 and 20 to discuss the situation in Mozambique.

Mondlane, who left the country last month amid rising violence, had initially planned to join the protests in Maputo but ultimately decided against it for safety reasons. “I wanted so much to be in Maputo with my people. But unfortunately, I received more than 5,000 messages… Ninety-nine percent of those messages discouraged me from going to Maputo,” he said. “Regrettably, I won’t be able to be there.”

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