On November 7, 2024, Mozambique’s capital city, Maputo, turned into a battleground as police clashed with thousands of protesters. The unrest followed the country’s October 9 presidential election, which the ruling party, Frelimo, claimed to have won by a large margin. Many Mozambicans, however, believe the vote was rigged. Frustrated by Frelimo’s nearly 50-year hold on power, people poured into the streets to support opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who insists the election was unfair.
This week’s protest dubbed the “Day of Freedom,” was the biggest so far and was marked by powerful scenes of defiance. Demonstrators, especially young people, marched toward Maputo’s city center, blocking roads with rocks and setting tires ablaze. Smoke and tear gas filled the air as riot police moved in, firing tear gas to disperse the crowds. Some of the protesters chanted “Venancio! Venancio!” while barricading main roads, including one that connects the city center to the airport. Despite announcing he would join his supporters, Mondlane did not appear at the protest. Local reports indicate he may have fled the country after his lawyer and a spokesperson for his Podemos party were murdered following the election.
According to the Mozambican Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), protests over the past two weeks have left at least 34 people dead and hundreds injured. Authorities have arrested more than a thousand people, with some witnesses describing the government’s reaction as a “brutal display of state repression.” The CDD has appealed to both national and international organizations to step in, urging them to demand accountability and protect people’s rights.
Meanwhile, Mozambique’s Defense Ministry accused the protesters of trying to overthrow the government, even threatening to deploy the army to keep control. Mozambique is on edge, with tensions spreading to neighboring countries. Just this week, South Africa, worried about rising violence, shut down its busiest border crossing with Mozambique.
Adding to the tension, the country’s Constitutional Council recently gave the electoral commission 72 hours to explain some inconsistencies in the vote count for various elections, including presidential, legislative, and provincial. Observers, including representatives from the European Union, reported “irregularities and unexplained changes” in the election results, fueling doubts about Frelimo’s landslide win.
With protests growing, Mozambique finds itself in a deepening crisis. The opposition remains determined to fight for what they see as a stolen election, while the government has shown no signs of backing down. The country stands divided, and the stakes are rising for everyone involved as the international community watches closely.
