Mozambique’s Opposition Leader to Claim Presidency Amid Ongoing Unrest
Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has declared his intention to declare himself president on January 15, following his rejection of the recent presidential election results. His announcement coincides with widespread protests by his supporters, demanding an end to the 49-year rule of the ruling Frelimo party.
The capital city, Maputo, resembled a ghost town on Christmas Eve, as businesses closed and citizens stayed indoors to avoid escalating violence—the worst seen since Frelimo gained power in 1975. Frelimo offices, police stations, and numerous businesses across the nation have faced looting, vandalism, and arson.
The unrest intensified after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the election victory of Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, from the October elections. Mondlane contested the results, alleging electoral misconduct. During a recent live address, he stated his rejection of the constitutional court’s ruling and proclaimed that he would assume the presidency on January 15, coinciding with Chapo’s scheduled inauguration.
Current President Filipe Nyusi is set to complete his two terms. However, it remains unclear how Mondlane intends to take office, as he is reportedly in self-imposed exile. Despite his distance, he has been engaging with his supporters through live speeches while urging them to maintain peace. “We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane emphasized.
Chapo has yet to respond to Mondlane’s declaration. The recent election marked the first presidential run for both candidates, with Chapo officially declared the victor with 71% of the votes compared to Mondlane’s 20%. Subsequent revisions by the constitutional court adjusted the results to 65% for Chapo and 24% for Mondlane.
Human rights organizations report that over 100 individuals have died in the unrest since the elections, citing security forces as responsible for many fatalities. Police Commander Bernadino Rafael, however, has claimed that officers were acting in self-defense amidst attacks.
Mondlane fled the country after alleging threats from police, following the fatal shootings of two aides in October. As a 50-year-old evangelical pastor, he ran as an independent after separating from the dominant opposition party, Renamo. His support base is particularly strong among the youth, who are demanding change amidst high unemployment rates. Chapo, at 47, is Frelimo’s youngest presidential candidate and has dismissed allegations of electoral fraud, asserting that his party is well-prepared for victory.
