On the day Daniel Chapo was sworn in as Mozambique’s president, post-election violence claimed the lives of seven more people, intensifying the political crisis in the southeastern African nation.
Chapo, a member of the ruling Frelimo party, took the presidential oath for a five-year term on Wednesday, despite ongoing unrest following the disputed October elections. The fresh casualties were reported in the capital, Maputo, and the northern city of Nampula, according to monitoring group Plataforma Decide. With the latest fatalities, the total death toll from the violence has now surpassed 300, highlighting the escalating tensions since protests erupted following the elections.
Since the election results were announced, Mozambique has witnessed widespread protests, with demonstrators accusing the government of electoral fraud. The opposition party, which claims the election outcome was “grossly manipulated,” has rejected the results. The electoral commission declared Chapo the winner with 65% of the vote, while his opponent, Venancio Mondlane, secured just 20%. The Mozambique National Resistance Movement and the Mozambique Democratic Movement, both of which also contested the results, boycotted Chapo’s inauguration ceremony.
The protests, which have intensified since October 21, have seen at least 600 people shot and more than 4,000 detained, according to the monitoring group. While Mozambique’s Constitutional Council validated the election results on December 23, the decision has done little to quell public unrest.
As violence continues to erupt across the country, questions remain about the long-term political stability of Mozambique, with observers fearing further escalation if the violence remains unchecked.