In Maputo, Mozambique violence erupted in the capital as police unleashed force on opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane and his supporters during a protest against last month’s disputed presidential election.
The demonstration held in Maputo’s central district turned bloody when security forces armed with batons and tear gas charged at protesters leaving at least a 16 people injured.
Mondlane the runner-up in the election had taken to the streets to denounce alleged electoral fraud and demand transparency.
However, his calls for justice were met with brute force escalating concerns about the shrinking democratic space in Mozambique.
What began as a peaceful march quickly turned into chaos. Protesters many waving national flags and chanting pro-democracy slogans were confronted by heavily armed riot police.
According to eyewitnesses, officers fired tear gas canisters indiscriminately into the crowd before resorting to batons beating demonstrators who refused to disperse.
Civil society groups condemned the police response as excessive with Human Rights League of Mozambique describing it as a “state-sanctioned assault on the right to protests.”
Mondlane’s team reported that several of his aides were among those injured with some sustaining severe wounds.
Mondlane a vocal opposition figure has refused to recognize the victory of President President Daniel Chapo ruling party.
The election marred by allegations of voter suppression and ballot rigging has fueled nationwide unrest.
International observers including the African Union have expressed concerns over the credibility of the electoral process yet the Mozambican government insists that the results reflect the will of the people.
In response to the protest crackdown, Mondlane accused the government of weaponizing state security forces to silence opposition voices.
“This is not just an attack on me, it is an attack on democracy itself,” he told reporters shortly after the clashes. “Mozambicans deserve free and fair elections not dictatorship in disguise.”
Despite the outcry, authorities have defended their actions claiming the protest was illegal and posed a threat to public order.
Interior Minister Arsenia Massingue stated that police intervened to prevent potential violence and maintain stability.
However, opposition supporters argue that this is part of a broader pattern of state repression aimed at crushing protests.
With political tensions at a boiling point, Mozambique faces an uncertain future. Mondlane has vowed to continue his fight for electoral justice while the government remains firm in its stance.
