Politics Chaos and dozens dead in Mozambique after election results
Two days after the announcement of the election results in Mozambique, the situation in the south-east African country is coming to a head. According to the civil society organization Plataforme Decide, at least 56 people have died in protests since Monday and 380 others have been injured. The capital Maputo and the cities of Beira and Nampula have been particularly affected. Mozambique's interior minister spoke of 21 dead and 25 injured on Tuesday evening.
25.12.2024, 20:33
SDA
The unrest began after the Constitutional Council on Monday confirmed the election of Daniel Chapo, candidate of the Frelimo party, which has been in power for 49 years, as the new president with 65 percent of the vote. Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, rejected the result as rigged. He announced in a speech on Facebook that he would declare himself president on January 15. He has been abroad since the beginning of the unrest following the election in October.
Chaos in the capital Maputo
In Maputo and other cities, stores were looted and vehicles and buildings, including police stations and Frelimo party headquarters, were set on fire. According to the police, demonstrators stormed five prisons. 1,534 prisoners were freed from the Matola maximum security prison in Maputo alone, 33 of whom were killed in battles with the police. The attackers also captured weapons. Dozens of inmates also escaped from other prisons.
The protests are paralyzing public life. In Maputo, demonstrators set up roadblocks, destroyed electricity pylons and robbed banks, as reported by a dpa reporter on the ground. Many residents of the capital stayed at home on Christmas Day as they feared attacks. In addition to the police, the government also deployed special forces from the military and border guards.
South Africa offers mediation
The situation remains tense. Opposition leader Mondlane called on his supporters to protest peacefully. The foreign ministry of neighboring South Africa called on the conflicting parties to engage in political dialogue and offered to help mediate.
Around 35 million people live in Mozambique, many of whom suffer from poverty, mismanagement and the effects of climate change. The Frelimo party has governed the former Portuguese colony since 1975 and regular elections have been held since 1994.
