On Friday, the Mozambican capital of Maputo woke to scenes of destruction following a night of violent protests sparked by the re-election of the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power for 49 years.
Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets, denouncing what they described as a “stolen” election conducted by a “corrupt” electoral commission.
The commission had announced the previous day that Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo secured 71 percent of the vote in the October 9 election.
As the results were broadcast, allegations of bias in favor of Frelimo fueled unrest across several cities. Protesters gathered, setting tires ablaze to block main roads in Maputo and tearing down Frelimo campaign billboards in defiance.
Clashes intensified as demonstrators threw stones at riot police, who responded with tear gas, according to an AFP journalist on the scene. Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor with no national political experience, had been a relatively unknown figure before his unexpected nomination.
He is set to succeed President Filipe Nyusi in January. Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who has declared himself the true victor and cited voting irregularities, officially garnered just over 20 percent of the vote.
“These results are absolutely unacceptable,” Mondlane stated in a live Facebook broadcast Thursday evening, calling for protests. “They do not reflect the will of the people,” he asserted, describing the political climate in the southern African nation as “rotten, doctored, and fake.”
Earlier this month, a European Union observation mission reported “irregularities during counting” and “clear favoritism” toward Frelimo.
AFP
