A Mozambican human rights group claims lethal responses to “peaceful” protests have led to the death of at least 34 people
Mozambican police have clashed with thousands of demonstrators in the capital, Maputo, firing tear gas at the crowd protesting the outcome of the country’s October 9 presidential election, which the long-ruling Frelimo party won.
The protests on Thursday were the largest yet organized by leading opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane against alleged vote rigging and extension of Frelimo’s 49-year rule in the southern African state. Mondlane, supported by the Podemos party, finished second in the presidential election with 20% of the vote, while the ruling coalition’s candidate won a landslide with more than 71%.
Since October 21, “a brutal display of state repression” of protests has resulted in at least 34 deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to the Mozambican Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD). More than a thousand arrests have been made, the organization reported on Thursday.
“This escalation is a call for immediate action. We urge all stakeholders, both national and international, to demand accountability and protect the rights enshrined in Mozambique’s Constitution and international human rights conventions. Violence must not silence the voices of those fighting for democracy and justice,” the CDD stated.
Earlier this week, the Defense Ministry accused demonstrators of attempting to “remove the democratically elected government” and threatened to deploy the army to prevent such incidents.
Videos posted on Mondlane’s Facebook page show scores of young people marching toward Maputo, blocking streets with rocks and burning tires during Thursday’s demonstrations dubbed the ‘Day of Freedom’.
The state-owned Mozambique Information Agency (AIM) reported that thick smoke from burning tires and “repeated volleys of tear gas hung over” parts of the capital as riot police dispersed groups chanting “Venancio! Venancio!” According to the outlet, demonstrators had barricaded several main highways, including one that connects the city center to the airport.
AIM claims Mondlane did not show up in the capital, despite promising to join his supporters for the marches.
The politician has reportedly fled the country following the assassination of his lawyer, Elvino Dias, and Paulo Guambe, a Podemos party spokesperson, in the aftermath of the election. He had previously accused police of firing live bullets at him, journalists, and supporters during an October 22 protest.
South Africa closed its busiest border crossing with the former Portuguese colony on Wednesday, citing security concerns amid the escalating post-election violence in the neighboring country.
On Tuesday, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council gave the electoral commission 72 hours to clarify why there had been discrepancies in the number of votes counted in the presidential, legislative, and provincial elections, according to Reuters.
Observers of the resource-rich country’s elections, including those from the European Union, reported detecting “irregularities during the counting and unjustified alteration” of the results.