Mozambique’s Opposition Leader, Venâncio Mondlane, Declares He Will Install Himself as President Amid Violent Protests

Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has declared that he will install himself as president on January 15, following his rejection of the results of the October presidential election. This declaration has ignited violent protests across the country, demanding the end of the 49-year rule of the Frelimo party, which has been in power since Mozambique’s independence in 1975.
The capital, Maputo, was eerily quiet on Christmas Eve, with businesses closed and citizens staying indoors to avoid the escalating violence. This unrest has become the worst the city has experienced since Frelimo assumed power, with reports of looting, vandalism, and the destruction of police stations, factories, and Frelimo offices across the country. At least 21 people have been confirmed dead in the violence, according to the Interior Minister.
The unrest began after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of Frelimo’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in the October elections. Mondlane, who contested the results, claimed the elections were rigged and rejected the ruling of the constitutional court. In a live broadcast on Facebook, Mondlane announced that he would assume the presidency on January 15, the same day Chapo is scheduled to be sworn in.
Mondlane is currently in self-imposed exile in an undisclosed location, but he continues to rally his supporters through social media. Despite the violent protests, Mondlane has urged his followers to remain peaceful, stating, “We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence.”
The election, the first time both Mondlane and Chapo ran for president, saw Chapo declared the winner with 71% of the vote, though the constitutional court revised the results, reducing his margin to 65%. Mondlane received 24% of the vote, a result he has strongly disputed.
The violence that has followed the election, with more than 100 deaths reported, has raised accusations from rights groups that security forces have been responsible for many of the killings. Police, however, maintain they were defending themselves after being attacked. Mondlane fled Mozambique in October, accusing police of threatening behavior, and his aides were killed during the same period.
Mondlane, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor, contested the election as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition party, Renamo. He has garnered support, particularly among the youth, who face high unemployment rates and are demanding political change. Chapo, Frelimo’s youngest-ever presidential candidate at 47, has denied any electoral fraud, asserting that Frelimo is an organized party that prepares for victory.
As the country braces for more unrest, the future of Mozambique remains uncertain, with the standoff between Mondlane and Frelimo intensifying in the coming weeks.