Mozambique social Uprising
Mozambique’s highest court confirmed on December 23, 2024, the ruling party's victory in a disputed October vote after allegations of rigging triggered weeks of deadly street clashes.
The country has been rocked by unrest since the election commission said that Chapo won the October 9 vote.
At least 261 people have been killed in the unrest that followed in the wake of the October 9 vote, according to local NGO Plataforma Decide.
The Constitutional Court stated that the ruling Frelimo party's presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, secured 65 percent of the vote, revising down provisional results from the electoral commission, which had initially reported nearly 71 percent.
Chapo's primary challenger, exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, received an upward revision to 24.2 percent of the vote.
The final results extend Frelimo's half-century grip on power and line up Chapo to take over from President Filipe Nyusi, whose second term ends on January 15.
Mondlane has said that the election was rigged in favour of Frelimo and that a separate count shows he won enough votes to take office, which he intends to do.
Several international observer missions have also reported irregularities.
Chapo struck a conciliatory tone in his first speech after being declared the winner, promising to reach out to Mondlane, who has been in self-imposed exile.
Cities, mines, borders, and ports have been affected by protest action, and operations at the main border with South Africa have been halted, causing its neighbour significant losses in exports.
© Alfredo Zúniga
