Soldiers and police patrolled the streets of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, early Thursday, preparing for a large protest against recent election results that the opposition has denounced as fraudulent.
The demonstrations follow the contentious October 9 election, won by the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power for nearly 50 years.
By morning, Maputo, a bustling city of over one million residents, had transformed into a near-deserted “ghost town,” with shops, banks, schools, and universities shutting down in anticipation of potential unrest.
Around 7:00 AM GMT, a small group of demonstrators gathered along a main street, some dressed casually in flip-flops and one wrapped in the Mozambican flag, but a soldier quickly ordered them to disperse.
The electoral commission declared Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo the presidential victor, securing 71 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who garnered 20 percent, contested the results, claiming they were falsified and insisting he had won. Backed by the minor Podemos party, Mondlane called for mass protests on Thursday, mobilizing his supporters through social media. Despite his calls, Mondlane’s whereabouts remain unknown, and he indicated he would not attend the rally due to safety concerns.
The post-election period has been marred by violence and heavy-handed police responses. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 18 protesters have been killed, while the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), a local NGO, places the death toll at 24.
During weekend protests, a police officer was also killed, prompting Defence Minister Cristovao Chume to warn that the military might intervene to “protect the state’s interests.” Chume expressed concerns over what he called “an attempt to destabilize democratically established power” and suggested that outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, nearing the end of his second term, might consider declaring a state of emergency.
In response to the unrest, Mozambican authorities have restricted internet access, which Human Rights Watch condemned as an attempt to stifle dissent and limit the public’s access to information. Allan Ngari, HRW’s Africa advocacy director, highlighted that the internet blackout “inhibits people’s ability to access critical information, assemble peacefully, and voice political opinions.”
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed alarm over the mounting violence, urging the Mozambican police to avoid excessive force and uphold international human rights standards when managing protests.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced an extraordinary summit from November 16 to 20, partially focused on Mozambique’s escalating crisis and its implications for regional stability.
