90 killed in Mozambique as protests over presidential election escalate
By Amina Wako |
At least 90 people have been killed in Mozambique as protests over the disputed October 9 presidential election escalate, according to civil society group Plataforma Decide.
The unrest, which erupted shortly after the election, has seen violent clashes between anti-government demonstrators and security forces.
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In a fresh wave of protests on Wednesday, police confirmed five fatalities, after reportedly using live ammunition to prevent demonstrators from storming the governor's residence in Nampula.
The violence has been fuelled by allegations of widespread electoral fraud benefiting the ruling Frelimo party, which has held power since Mozambique's independence in 1975.
Mozambique’s opposition leader Venancio Mondlane (Photo: File/REUTERS/Sisipho Skweyiya)
Official results declared Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo the winner with nearly 71 per cent of the vote. However, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane claims his party’s independent tally showed him leading with 53 per cent.
According to Plataforma Decide, the protests between October 21 and December 5 resulted in the detention of nearly 3,500 people.
Mondlane has urged his supporters to sustain the demonstrations, vowing that “this time, all of us will not have Christmas because the people will be on the streets”.
The Constitutional Council is expected to confirm the election results before Chapo’s January inauguration, but opposition groups warn that protests will persist, marking this as Mozambique’s deadliest political crisis in years.
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