The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission has strongly criticized Mozambique’s October elections, highlighting widespread irregularities, including ballot box stuffing and result manipulation favoring the ruling Frelimo party. The final assessment, released on Thursday, raises serious concerns about electoral integrity and political repression in the gas-rich southern African nation.
The disputed election sparked violent unrest, with security forces cracking down on opposition-led protests. According to local civil society group Electoral Platform Decide, post-election violence resulted in 314 deaths, over 630 injuries, and 4,230 arrests.
Despite the controversy, Frelimo—Mozambique’s ruling party for nearly 50 years—secured victory, with Daniel Chapo officially declared president in January after receiving 65% of the vote. However, the EU report detailed multiple irregularities, including deliberate invalidation of opposition votes, fraudulent result alterations, and a lack of transparency in the counting process.
EU observers noted significant vote discrepancies, always in Frelimo’s favor, and cited evidence of district-level results manipulation. The report also condemned the security forces’ “heavy-handed tactics” in suppressing opposition protests, particularly those led by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane.
Mondlane, who had fled the country after his lawyer was assassinated in October, returned just days before Chapo’s January 15 inauguration.
In response to the findings, the EU mission has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Mozambique’s electoral administration to restore impartiality and ensure future elections uphold democratic principles.
