MAPUTO, Mozambique — On Wednesday, a significant number of opposition supporters demonstrated as Mozambique celebrated the inauguration of its new president amidst tensions following controversial elections and violent conflicts.
Daniel Chapo was formally sworn in as the fifth president of Mozambique in front of approximately 2,500 attendees who braved the sweltering heat outside the city hall in Maputo. Meanwhile, opposition supporters gathered nearby to peacefully protest but were restricted from accessing the inauguration site by heavily armed security forces. Various roads were sealed off, maintaining a strong security presence throughout several locations in the capital.
In his inaugural address, Chapo acknowledged the unrest facing the nation. “We heard your voices before and during the protests and we will continue to listen,” he stated. The 48-year-old law graduate emphasized the urgency of achieving stability in the southern African nation. “Social harmony cannot wait, nor can the building of consensus on the issues that concern the Mozambican people. Dialogue has already begun, and we will not cease until we have a unified and cohesive country,” he added.
The inauguration was attended by notable figures such as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Umaro Sissoco Embaló from Guinea-Bissau, in addition to representatives from several other nations, including Portugal.
In December, the Constitutional Council of Mozambique declared Chapo the victor of the presidential elections with 65.17% of the votes, dismissing a challenge from opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who reportedly garnered 24% of the votes. Following the elections, there were widespread protests met with violent reactions from security forces, which have resulted in over 300 fatalities, including many children, as reported by local and international human rights groups.
Mondlane, a 50-year-old pastor, has been actively encouraging protests through social media platforms, advocating for the “restoration of electoral truth.” Several Western nations, including the United States, have raised doubts regarding the integrity of the electoral process. After a period of self-imposed exile due to fears for his safety—following the assassination of two senior members of his party—Mondlane returned to find a warm reception from his supporters on January 9.
On Monday, he urged the public to engage in further protests against the inauguration of parliament members as well as Chapo’s swearing-in ceremony. Chapo’s party, Frelimo, has held power in Mozambique, a nation of around 34 million residents, since its independence from Portugal in 1975. Notably, he becomes the first president born after the country gained independence.
Chapo characterized “social and political stability” as the foremost priority in his address. Beyond the demonstrations linked to the disputed election, he faces the challenge of addressing a jihadist insurgency that has persisted for seven years in the oil- and gas-rich Cabo Delgado province.
Moreover, he inherits a nation plagued by corruption and severe economic difficulties, including high unemployment rates and frequent strikes among public sector employees like nurses and doctors. Mozambique is recognized as one of the poorest nations globally, according to the World Bank.
“Corruption, inertia, cronyism, nepotism, sycophancy, incompetence, and injustice cannot continue to hold Mozambique hostage. That’s why we said let’s get to work,” Chapo expressed during his acceptance speech. He conveyed his concern over the fact that “many of our compatriots still go to bed without at least one decent meal.”
Chapo promised to streamline government operations by reducing the number of ministries and high-level positions, an initiative he anticipates could save over $260 million, which he intends to redirect toward improving citizens’ lives. However, some local experts, including economic analyst Evaristo Cumbane, remain doubtful about these promises. “We are listening to the same song. The country is divided; we need to reconcile all Mozambicans first, then we can tackle other issues,” Cumbane remarked.
