Mozambique’s outgoing President Felipe Nyusi has emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve the country’s post-election crisis, ruling out foreign mediation.
At a reception for leaders of various political parties, Nyusi expressed his belief in Mozambique’s ability to solve its own problems, stating that internal solutions are more effective because they are “without schemes, without arrangements, without interests”.
Nyusi met with party leaders, including Albino Forquilha of Podemos and Daniel Chapo, the president-elect and current secretary-general of Frelimo.
The outgoing president reiterated that “the solutions for Mozambique can only be found by us Mozambicans,” advocating for dialogue as the way forward.
However, Nyusi’s previous attempt at dialogue, a meeting between all presidential candidates, was unsuccessful.
Venâncio Mondlane, the leader of the protest movement, has refused to return to the country or disclose his location for a meeting abroad. Mondlane is currently in hiding and under indictment.
The protests in Mozambique began on October 21, after government forces fired tear gas at Mondlane’s supporters and journalists.
The unrest was sparked by the murder of two close Mondlane associates who were challenging the results of the presidential election held on October 9.
The official results, announced on October 24, declared Daniel Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote, but the outcome was widely disputed by internal observers and external election monitors.
The situation in Mozambique has drawn concern from neighboring countries, with Nigeria expressing concern over the escalating post-election violence and calling for calm.
