The current situation in Mozambique is marked by violent protests that have broken out in Maputo, Nampula and Zambezia, killing at least five people and seriously injuring three others, according to police authorities. The clashes pitted security forces against protesters armed with stones, knives and machetes.
The protests were sparked by the October 9 election results, which were contested by Venancio Mondlane, a defeated presidential candidate who declared himself the winner, claiming electoral fraud. From his exile in South Africa, Mondlane called for a week of nationwide protests from December 4 to 11, aimed at blocking roads, railways, ports and airports in order to “restore the truth about the elections”.
Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi has warned of the risk of disruption to public sector salary payments, particularly for teachers and nurses, due to the lack of external financial support to Mozambique.
In Matola, protests took a dramatic turn following the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy by a plainclothes police officer. Residents blocked access to the Beleluane industrial park, home to Mozal, a major aluminium exporter, forcing the company to temporarily halt its trucking operations.
This wave of tensions and violence represents a critical issue for Mozambique’s social and political stability. It is essential that authorities and political leaders find peaceful solutions to prevent an escalation of violence and restore citizens’ trust in the democratic process.