At least 110 people have been killed in Mozambique during seven weeks of violent post-election protests, rights groups report.
The unrest erupted following the October 9 presidential election, which opposition parties and international observers alleged was riddled with irregularities. Protesters accuse the ruling Frelimo party, in power for nearly 50 years, of vote-rigging to secure victory for their candidate, Daniel Chapo.
Tensions escalated after two prominent opposition leaders were assassinated on October 18, incidents widely denounced as politically motivated. Thousands of citizens took to the streets, calling for justice and challenging the election’s legitimacy.
Security forces have been accused of excessive violence, with reports of 110 fatalities since October 21, according to civil society group Plataforma Eleitoral Decide. Amnesty International corroborated the death toll and revealed that 357 people have been shot during the protests. Over 3,500 protesters have reportedly been detained arbitrarily.
Protesters have blocked roads, torched police stations, and set Frelimo offices ablaze in cities across the country, paralyzing daily life. Videos of military vehicles running over demonstrators have drawn international condemnation, with nations such as the United States and the U.K. criticizing Mozambique’s heavy-handed response.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who came second in the election, has fled the country, citing threats to his safety. From abroad, he continues to rally supporters through social media, vowing to announce new protest plans on Monday.
Despite the turmoil, Chapo’s inauguration is set for January 15, though the Constitutional Council has yet to validate the election results amid ongoing legal challenges.
Mozambique faces its most significant political crisis since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, as the government’s efforts to quell dissent seem only to inflame public outrage.