The capital of Mozambique, Maputo, was left in ruins on Friday as protests turned violent following the ruling Frelimo party’s re-election, which marks 49 years in power.
Opposition supporters took to the streets in large numbers, denouncing the election results as a “stolen” vote orchestrated by a “corrupt” electoral commission. This outcry followed the announcement that candidate Daniel Chapo had secured 71 percent of the vote in the October 9 election.
As the electoral authority, accused of bias towards Frelimo, proclaimed the results, protests erupted in multiple cities. Demonstrators escalated their actions, setting tires ablaze to block roads in Maputo and vandalizing Frelimo’s campaign billboards. Rioters also clashed with anti-riot police, who responded with tear gas, as reported by an AFP correspondent on the scene.
Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor with little prior national government experience, was a surprising choice for the ruling party’s candidacy. He is set to succeed President Filipe Nyusi in January.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who has claimed victory amid allegations of irregularities, officially received just over 20 percent of the vote. “We absolutely reject these results,” Mondlane stated during a Facebook Live broadcast Thursday evening. “They do not reflect the will of the people,” he continued, characterizing the political climate in Mozambique as “rotten, doctored, and fake.”
A European Union election observation mission earlier this month highlighted “irregularities during counting” and indicated a pattern of “net favoritism” towards Frelimo.
