After the official results of the presidential elections in Mozambique were announced by the Constitutional Council, riots broke out in the country, killing over 20 people. According to official data, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party won the election. The opposition claims that the voting results were rigged.
According to the authorities, in the 24 hours after the verdict was announced on Monday, a total of 236 acts of violence were reported, resulting in the death of at least 21 people and the injury of 25, including 13 policemen.
So far, 78 people have been arrested and security measures have been tightened throughout the country, said Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda in an interview with the public station TVM. – The armed and defense forces will increase their presence at critical and key points, he added.
Riots in Mozambique PAP/EPA
Presidential elections in Mozambique
According to the central electoral commission, the election on October 9 was won by Daniel Chapo – the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party Mozambique continuously since independence in 1975. He was to receive 71 percent. votes, and the opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane – 36 percent.
However, the Constitutional Council reported different voting results. According to them, Chapo obtained approximately 65 percent. votes, and Mondlane – about 24 percent. In the parallel parliamentary elections, the Council also awarded Frelimo fewer seats than the central electoral commission. The reason for these differences was not explained.
The opposition claims that Mondlane won the presidential election with 53 percent support. Western observers agreed that the elections were neither free nor fair. The opposition candidate rejected the results announced on Monday.
Daniel Chapo poses for a photo with his voters PAP/EPA
Massive protests
When Mozambique's central electoral commission announced the results of the vote at the end of October, it triggered an outbreak of mass protests. Demonstrators took to the streets of many cities. There were clashes with security services, in which at least 130 people died. Civil unrest has already impacted the operations of foreign companies, including Australian mining company South32. Due to the unrest, neighboring South Africa temporarily closed its main border crossing with Mozambique.
The new president of Mozambique is scheduled to be sworn in in January.
Riots in Mozambique PAP/EPA
Main photo source: PAP/EPA