Maputo: Mozambique’s Constitutional Council has upheld the ruling party Frelimo’s victory in the contentious October elections, affirming Daniel Chapo as president-elect. The announcement, made on Monday, has sparked further unrest in a nation already reeling from post-election protests and allegations of fraud.
Protests and Concerns
The Constitutional Council’s decision, final and binding, has intensified tensions in Mozambique, a country with a population nearing 35 million that has been under Frelimo’s governance since 1975. The October elections, widely criticized by Western observers as neither free nor fair, have triggered the largest protests in the country’s history.
In response to the court’s ruling, the U.S. State Department expressed concern and called for “serious electoral and institutional reforms,” citing observer reports of irregularities in vote tabulation and a lack of transparency throughout the process.
According to the civil society group Plataforma Decide, at least 130 people have died in clashes with police since the election, marking one of the most violent post-election periods in Mozambique’s recent history.
Mozambique's top court confirmed the ruling party Frelimo's victory in an October election, which has sparked massive protests by opposition groups who say the vote was rigged https://t.co/lXXDivCksi pic.twitter.com/stKrRvqkgK
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 24, 2024
A City on Edge
In Maputo, where the Constitutional Council announced the results, streets were eerily empty amid a heavy police presence. Despite the tense calm in the capital, protests erupted in northern cities like Nacala-Porto shortly after the announcement, as shown on local broadcaster TV Sucesso Moz.
The council reported that Chapo had won approximately 65% of the vote—lower than the initial 70% reported by the electoral commission in October. It also revised Frelimo’s parliamentary seat count downward without providing an explanation for these adjustments.
Opposition Rejects Results
The opposition, led by Venancio Mondlane, has strongly disputed the election results. Mondlane’s representative, Judite Simao, criticized the ruling, stating, “We never thought that the electoral truth would be trampled. The will of the people was obliterated.”
Frelimo has consistently faced allegations of vote-rigging since Mozambique’s first elections in 1994, accusations it has repeatedly denied. Meanwhile, the electoral commission has remained silent on the fraud claims surrounding this election.
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Economic Fallout
The unrest is already impacting Mozambique’s economy. Australian mining firm South32 has scaled back operations, while the main border crossing with South Africa was temporarily closed due to safety concerns.
A senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) official noted that Mozambique’s 2024 economic growth projection would likely fall below the earlier forecast of 4.3%, citing the unrest and the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido.
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Moving Forward
Despite the turmoil, Chapo vowed at a Frelimo gathering to focus on improving the lives of Mozambicans during his presidency. However, with widespread protests, international scrutiny, and economic strain, his administration faces significant challenges.
