Venâncio Mondlane, Mozambique’s main opposition leader, has declared his intention to install himself as president on January 15, following his rejection of the October presidential election results. This announcement comes amid escalating violence across the country, as his supporters demand an end to the nearly five-decade rule of the Frelimo party.
Since Monday, Mozambique has experienced widespread unrest following the constitutional court’s decision to uphold Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo’s election victory. The protests, which have left at least 21 people dead, have seen Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories vandalized, looted, and set on fire.
The capital, Maputo, has become a near-ghost town, with businesses shuttered and residents staying indoors to avoid the chaos, marking the city’s most severe unrest since Frelimo came to power in 1975.
Mondlane, who has alleged election rigging, announced his rejection of the court’s ruling in a Facebook Live broadcast on Tuesday, vowing to assume the presidency on the same day Chapo is scheduled to be sworn in. However, it remains unclear how Mondlane intends to proceed, as he is currently in self-imposed exile in an undisclosed location.
“We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane said during his address, urging his supporters to remain peaceful despite the ongoing turmoil.
October’s election was Mondlane’s first presidential bid, in which the electoral commission initially declared Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%. The constitutional court later revised these figures to 65% for Chapo and 24% for Mondlane.
Mondlane, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor who ran as an independent after breaking away from the Renamo party, enjoys strong support among Mozambique’s youth, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.
Chapo, Frelimo’s youngest-ever presidential candidate at 47, has denied allegations of electoral fraud, stating, “We are an organized party that prepares its victories.”
Rights groups estimate that over 100 people have been killed in post-election violence, with many attributing the deaths to security forces. However, police commander Bernardino Rafael has defended his officers, stating they acted in self-defense when attacked.
Mondlane fled Mozambique in October, citing police threats and the killing of two of his aides.
As Mozambique grapples with increasing unrest, the January 15 deadline looms with uncertainty. Mondlane’s bold declaration and the unresolved grievances of his supporters set the stage for potential further conflict, even as the nation remains divided over its political future.
