Mozambique court upholds Frelimo election victory amid unrest

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Johannesburg, South Africa – Mozambique’s Constitutional Council has upheld the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in the disputed October elections, confirming Daniel Chapo’s landslide presidential win and an increased parliamentary majority. The decision, announced on Monday, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition groups and Western observers, who labelled the polls neither free nor fair. Frelimo, in power since independence in 1975, denies any wrongdoing.

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The post-election period has been marred by violent clashes between protesters and police, leaving at least 130 dead, according to civil society group Plataforma Decide.

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who claims an independent count showed he won the election, has fled the country citing security concerns. He has called for a “popular uprising” and warned of further unrest following the court’s ruling.

Tensions remain high in the capital, Maputo, where businesses are shuttered, and roads are barricaded by police. Chapo, 47, is set to succeed President Filipe Nyusi on 15 January, becoming Mozambique’s first leader born after independence. Critics warn that the unrest could signal growing dissatisfaction with Frelimo’s decades-long rule.