Two days after the controversial victory of the long-standing ruling party Frelimo, the situation in Mozambique, southeast Africa, came to a head on Christmas Day. According to the police chief, a bloody prison riot left 33 people dead and more than 1,500 prisoners managed to escape.
At least 56 people have been killed and 380 injured in anti-government protests since Monday, according to the NGO Plataforme Decide.
The opposition has established election fraud
The unrest began after the Constitutional Council on Monday confirmed the election of Daniel Chapo, candidate of the Frelimo party that has ruled for 49 years, as the new president with 65 percent of the vote. The opposition has established election fraud. The capital Maputo and the cities of Beira and Nampula were particularly affected. Mozambique’s Minister of the Interior spoke on Tuesday evening of 21 deaths and 25 injuries.
Video footage of the prison riot circulating on social media:
Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who received 24 percent of the vote according to the Constitutional Council, rejected the result as manipulated. In a speech via Facebook, he announced that he would declare himself president on January 15. He has been abroad since the unrest began after October’s elections.
Chaos in the capital Maputo
In Maputo and other cities, shops were looted and vehicles and buildings, including police stations and the Frelimo party headquarters, were set on fire. Protesters also stormed prisons. More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from the capital’s prison. The uprising left 33 people dead and another 15 injured.
The protests paralyze public life. In Maputo, demonstrators have set up roadblocks, destroyed electricity poles and robbed banks, a dpa reporter reported. Many residents of the capital stayed home on Christmas Day because they were afraid of attacks. In addition to the police, the government also deploys special military and border guards.
South Africa offers mediation
The situation remains tense. Opposition leader Mondlane called on his supporters to protest peacefully. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of neighboring South Africa called on the parties to the conflict to engage in political dialogue and offered support for mediation.
About 35 million people live in Mozambique, many of whom suffer from poverty, mismanagement and the effects of climate change. The Frelimo party has ruled the former Portuguese colony since 1975. Elections have been held regularly since 1994.
Source: Krone
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