At least 21 people have been killed in violent clashes following Mozambique’s Constitutional Council’s decision on Monday to uphold the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in the recent election, the country’s Interior Minister, Pascoal Ronda, announced on Tuesday night.
The court’s ruling reignited nationwide protests led by opposition groups and their supporters, who claim the election was marred by widespread fraud.
So far, 78 people have been arrested, and security has been significantly reinforced across key locations in the country. “The armed and defense forces will increase their presence in critical and strategic points,” Minister Ronda said during an interview with public broadcaster TVM.
Frelimo, which has dominated Mozambique’s political landscape for decades, has consistently faced allegations of electoral fraud from opposition parties and independent observers—a claim the party firmly denies.
