Protests erupted in Mozambique on Monday after the Constitutional Council decided to uphold the results of the country’s presidential elections that took place in October, much to the dismay of opposition supporters and European election observers.
In a statement published online, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the official diplomatic service of the European Union, reported “irregularities during counting of votes and unjustified alteration of election results” in the country’s presidential race.
The purported winner, Daniel Chapo, is a career politician and member of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), the political party that has been in power since Mozambique achieved independence from Portugal in 1977.
The unrest began back in October, before the election results were announced, when the opposition’s candidate, Venancio Mondlane, accused the government of employing the same voter-suppression tactics now being reported by the EEAS.
Less than two weeks after elections were held, two opposition party leaders were attacked and killed in the Mozambican capital of Maputo. Both men were said to be preparing to challenge the election results in court.
When protests ensued, opposition supporters were met with force. During a demonstration in Maputo on October 21st, Mozambican security forces fired live ammunition into the crowd, killing dozens of protestors.
While Maputo is rife with anti-government sentiment, how long demonstrations will continue, and how many more will be killed, remains unclear.
