At least five people have died in widespread protests across Mozambique on Wednesday, with unrest reported in the capital Maputo, Nampula in the north, and the central region of Zambezia. According to local sources and police statements, the fatalities occurred during violent confrontations between anti-government demonstrators and police forces, leaving three others severely injured.
The Mozambican Police General Command confirmed that those who died were armed with weapons such as stones, machetes, and knives, engaging in violent clashes with law enforcement. Police spokesman Orlando Mudumune condemned the protests, stating that they had disrupted public order, the free movement of citizens, and the country’s economic activities.
The protests are believed to be linked to calls for demonstrations by Venancio Mondlane, the opposition leader and defeated presidential candidate, who accused the government of electoral fraud following the October 9 election. Mondlane, who fled to South Africa citing threats to his safety, has been calling for a series of protests from December 4 to 11 to demand “election truth.” His calls have urged demonstrators to block roads, railways, ports, and airports, further escalating tensions across the nation.
President Filipe Nyusi has expressed deep concern over the potential long-term consequences of the unrest, warning that it could severely impact the ability to pay public sector wages, particularly within the education and healthcare sectors. In a meeting with university rectors in Maputo, Nyusi noted that the lack of foreign financial aid could prevent the government from meeting salary obligations.
The situation has also sparked local protests, such as in Matola, where residents blocked access to the Mozal Aluminum Plant in response to the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy by a plainclothes police officer. As a result, Mozal temporarily suspended the circulation of its trucks, halting aluminum exports along the route.
The ongoing unrest is threatening to destabilize the country’s already fragile economy and could further inflame tensions ahead of the planned protests over the coming week.