Sixteen Killed in Last Week’s Protests in Mozambique

A total of 16 people, including four police officers, have died in the last seven days in clashes between authorities and demonstrators protesting against the election results in Mozambique, according to an official source.

The report presented by the General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) also indicates that 73 people were injured, including members of the force and demonstrators, supporters of Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate who is leading the demonstrations against the results of the October 9 elections.

The Mozambican police accuse supporters of Mondlane and Podemos, the party that supports him, of trying to "subvert the constitutional order" by attacking 11 police stations and three prisons in the last week alone.

"In connection with these criminal acts, 120 individuals were arrested," stated Orlando Mudumane, during the presentation of the report on Thursday night at the Ministry of the Interior.

According to the authorities, 63 public and private infrastructures were vandalized, 73 commercial establishments were looted and 12 residential buildings were set on fire.

“These are genuinely subversive actions,” stressed Orlando Modumane.

The announcement by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) on October 24 of the election results, in which Daniel Chapo was awarded victory in the presidential elections and the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party, which strengthened its absolute majority, in the legislative elections, sparked popular protests, called by Mondlane, which have degenerated into violent clashes with the police.

The latest report by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Plataforma Eleitoral Decide, which observed the electoral process, indicated that a total of 110 people died and more than 300 were injured as a result of clashes between police and protesters since October 21.

Mondlane, who is currently abroad, has been calling for protests on the social network Facebook, and in his latest communication, he promised to be in Maputo to take office as President of Mozambique on January 15, the date scheduled for the inauguration of the new head of state.

"The 5th elected President of the Republic of Mozambique, elected by the people, will take office on the 15th. Stay prepared," declared Mondlane, also planning to announce new protests in the coming days on Monday.