Mozambique: High Court’s Election Confirmation Triggers Renewed Protests

New protests have commenced in Mozambique following the confirmation by the country’s highest court that Daniel Chapo, the candidate for the ruling party, was the victor in October’s contested presidential election. Deadly demonstrations had previously erupted when the preliminary results were initially announced. Venâncio Mondlane, who secured the second position, has consistently urged his supporters to protest against what he described as a “rigged vote” since the election concluded. On Monday, demonstrators were observed chanting his name, igniting tyres, obstructing roads with barricades, and pelting stones at law enforcement personnel. Security forces countered these actions with tear gas. Mondlane is currently living in exile, having departed Mozambique after alleging threatening behavior by the police following the fatal shooting of two of his aides in October. In a social media message over the weekend, he stated the possibility of a “new popular uprising” should the election outcome remain unchanged. The constitutional court affirmed the victory of Frelimo’s candidate in the election, yet it adjusted the margin of victory to a lower figure. Initial results released in October indicated the winner had secured a 71% share of the vote compared to Mondlane’s 20%. The court has now determined that Chapo received 65% of the vote, while his primary rival obtained 24%. Earlier on Monday, the typical activity and movement that defines the greater Maputo area on weekdays and during holiday periods were absent, replaced by quiet streets and a lack of traffic. This situation has become a recurring sight in the region since the widespread demonstrations commenced on 21 October. Mondlane, identified as a 50-year-old evangelical pastor, informed the BBC earlier this month that he found it “no way” possible to accept the election outcome. The electoral commission refuted his claim that the election was manipulated to benefit Frelimo, a party that has held power for 49 years since the nation’s independence. However, international election observers have stated that the voting process contained flaws, citing instances of altered figures and other inconsistencies observed during the tabulation. The demonstrations, ongoing for several weeks, have resulted in violent clashes with law enforcement, with at least 110 fatalities reported by the local monitoring organization Plataforma Decide. It has been alleged that a significant number of these deaths were caused by security forces, although police commander Bernadino Rafael previously informed the BBC that his officers acted in self-defense after being subjected to attacks. On Sunday, Pope Francis addressed the predominantly Catholic nation, advocating for dialogue and emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the common good. Mondlane has engaged in discussions with the outgoing President, Filipe Nyusi; however, the results of these conversations remain undisclosed.