In Mozambique, protests over a disputed election have turned violent, revealing serious divisions in the country and raising fears about its political future.
The Mozambican capital, Maputo, awoke to wreckage on Friday as protests turned violent overnight following the ruling party Frelimo’s re-election after 49 years in power.
Cause of Protests In Mozambique
Hundreds of opposition supporters demonstrated, rejecting what they called a ballot “stolen” by a “corrupt” electoral commission, which on Thursday announced that candidate Daniel Chapo had won the October 9 election with 71 percent of the vote.
As the election authority—widely accused of acting in favour of Frelimo—was announcing the results, crowds gathered in multiple cities.
Protests escalated, with rioters setting fire to tyres to block streets in Maputo, scaling Frelimo’s election billboards, and destroying them.
Some also threw stones at anti-riot police, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, as witnessed by an AFP reporter.
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Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor with no experience in national government, was little known before his surprise nomination as candidate for the ruling Frelimo party.
He will take over from President Filipe Nyusi in January.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who has declared himself the winner and claimed irregularities, officially won just over 20 percent of the vote.
Mozambique Rejects Result
“We absolutely reject these results,” said Mondlane, who urged demonstrations during a Facebook live broadcast on Thursday evening.
“They do not reflect the will of the people,” he added, calling the political situation in the southern African country “rotten, doctored, and fake.”
A European Union poll observer mission earlier this month noted “irregularities during counting” and “net favouritism” in favour of Frelimo.
