UN chief demands probe into killing of opposition figures in Mozambique

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has appealed for calm in Mozambique following the killing of two opposition figures.

Elvino Dias, legal advisor to presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, the legal representative of the political party PODEMOS, were killed in the capital, Maputo, on Friday night.

PODEMOS has rejected provisional results of the October 9 presidential elections which showed that the FRELIMO party, which has ruled Mozambique for nearly 50 years, was in the lead.

The full results of the election are expected this week.

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However, Mozambique’s electoral commission has declined to comment on accusations of fraud.

The United States-based observers said the poll did not meet international standards for democratic elections, noting reports of vote buying, intimidation, inflated voter rolls and other issues

Guterres in an address at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday urged the authorities to swiftly investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He urged Mozambicans, including political leaders and their supporters, to remain calm, exercise restraint and reject all forms of violence ahead of the official announcement of the electoral results.

He also reaffirmed the UN’s unwavering support to peace and stability in Mozambique during this important phase in the country’s history.

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