Mozambique Restricts Social Media Amidst Disputed Election and Opposition Candidate’s Concealment

Restrictions have been imposed on social media platforms in Mozambique. This development occurs as a prominent contender from the contentious election held last month continues to evade authorities while advocating for demonstrations. According to police statements, Venâncio Mondlane, an independent candidate and part-time pastor who asserts he legitimately won the election, is thought to be located in neighboring South Africa. Through social media videos, he has been urging his followers to stage protests during the upcoming week, challenging the official election outcomes that declared Daniel Chapo of the governing Frelimo party as the victor. Mondlane vanished from public sight 12 days prior, alleging that police exhibited threatening conduct shortly after two of his assistants were fatally shot in the period preceding the announcement of the results. He characterized the deaths of his lawyer, Elvino Dias, and Paulo Guambe, an official from the opposition Podemos party which supported him, as politically motivated. This accusation has been refuted by the government. Prior to the release of the results, Mondlane entered hiding, stating that his residence had been surrounded by law enforcement officers and that he had been subjected to tear gas during demonstrations organized subsequent to the killings. Public demonstrations also commenced following the announcement of the results on Thursday of the previous week. A minimum of 10 individuals were reportedly killed by security forces during the post-election protests, as documented in a report by the Order of Doctors, an independent association of medical professionals. Additionally, dozens sustained gunshot injuries that were not fatal. Bernardino Rafael, the police chief, has refuted Mondlane’s allegations and stated that his officers were summoned to intervene in 58 protests, specifying that “of which 38 were violent, very violent”. The internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that restrictions affecting WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram commenced on Thursday, with mobile data disruptions having occurred shortly after election day on 9 October. Over the last day, WhatsApp, for instance, has experienced disconnections lasting for several hours. While intermittent connections are possible, making calls via the application was unfeasible throughout Friday. The government has refrained from commenting on assertions that it intentionally suppressed internet access to impede the coordination capabilities of protesters. President-elect Chapo is slated to succeed Filipe Nyusi, who is resigning after completing his two-term limit in office. Mozambique has historically been governed solely by one political entity, Frelimo, which has maintained power since the nation gained independence from Portugal. The official election outcomes indicated that Chapo secured 71% of the votes. Mondlane placed second with 20%, while Ossufo Momade, representing the former rebel group Renamo, finished third with 6%. However, Podemos is contesting this outcome before the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, international election observers have declared the elections to be flawed, citing manipulated figures and various other irregularities observed during the vote tabulation process. The Constitutional Court has now directed the electoral commission to submit all relevant records and tally sheets. On Thursday, Albino Forquilha, the leader of Podemos, held discussions with the police chief, urging “institutions that administer justice” to “carry out work that honours the vote the Mozambican people entrusted to political parties”. By Friday, a degree of tranquility had been re-established in the streets of Maputo, the capital, and other urban centers, following several days of protests. Certain markets, retail outlets, and businesses that were compelled to cease operations have since resumed, though they report a significant scarcity of customers. The president of the national trade association CTA stated that the business impact has been “worse than Covid-19,” occurring “at a time when the country is struggling with the issue of unemployment, mostly affecting the youth”. Many Mozambicans have predominantly chosen to remain at home rather than commute to work as usual, citing concerns over safety and the limited availability of public transportation. Outside the capital, educational institutions are operational, but with a reduced attendance of students in classes. Mondlane is currently appealing to Mozambican industries to support what he terms a week-long “paralysis,” asserting on Facebook Live that “seven days without work are better than five years of misery”. Additionally, he has instructed his supporters to “occupy” the presidential palace and other key locations within the capital city. Further reporting was contributed by BBC Monitoring. For additional news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com. You can follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.