MAPUTO, Mozambique — Authorities in Mozambique are contemplating the deployment of military forces to manage the escalating post-election protests that have swept the nation following the rejection of election results by the opposition. These results confirmed the governing party, Frelimo, continuing its 49-year dominance.
Since the announcement of the presidential election outcomes on October 24, which indicated Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo as the victor, thousands have taken to the streets. The opposition has announced plans for what it claims will be the largest demonstrations in the capital, Maputo, set for Thursday.
According to Amnesty International, at least 20 people have lost their lives, with hundreds more injured or arrested as a result of the protests that erupted. The organization characterized the government’s response as one of the most severe crackdowns on dissent seen in recent years. The government has also reportedly restricted internet access across the nation and blocked various media websites since last Friday.
Defense Minister Cristóvão Chume made statements on Tuesday indicating that military intervention could occur to suppress the unrest, labeling these protests as efforts to undermine the democratically elected leadership. “Should the violence escalate further, the armed forces will take over from the police to safeguard state interests,” Chume affirmed.
Meanwhile, the South African government has temporarily closed its Lebombo border with Mozambique due to reports of vehicles being set ablaze on the Mozambican side. The Border Management Agency of South Africa announced that this closure is a precautionary measure taken to protect the safety of all individuals involved in cross-border activities.
In Ressano Garcia, a town that connects Mozambique and South Africa, there were reports of residents looting trucks and erecting barricades to disrupt traffic. One truck was set on fire, prompting police to use tear gas to disperse those involved in the looting, as per local media accounts.
On Wednesday, police were busy dismantling barricades in multiple neighborhoods of Maputo in anticipation of the major protests led by Venancio Mondlane, who was the runner-up in the elections with 20% of the votes. Mondlane has accused the government of election rigging favoring Frelimo. Reports indicate that Mondlane has fled the country, leaving his current location unknown.
Healthcare professionals have also joined the demonstrations, drawing attention to the protests’ adverse effects on civilians and medical services. Napoleão Viola, head of the Medical Association of Mozambique, reported that certain healthcare services are beginning to falter, including outpatient care and essential vaccinations for children.
With an estimated 108 individuals treated for injuries sustained during the protests, Viola highlighted the dire situation: “The last two weeks in Mozambique have been marked by completely unnecessary bloodshed as authorities have sought to quell a peaceful protest movement with lethal force,” stated Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for east and southern Africa. The number of casualties continues to rise, with authorities utilizing military-grade weaponry, including rifles and armored vehicles, in urban areas. Citizens are increasingly unable to protest even in the privacy of their homes without the threat of police violence.
Accusations of electoral fraud have plagued Frelimo for years, although the party consistently denies these claims. Following the elections, the European Union’s observer mission expressed concerns about being obstructed from monitoring vote counting in various locations and identified “unjustified alterations” in the results at several polling stations.