European Union election observers have raised concerns over the “unjustified alteration” of results in Mozambique’s recent general election, as accusations of violence and fraud rock the nation.
The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) stated that irregularities during the counting process and manipulation of results at polling station and district levels were detected.
The allegations come just days after Mozambicans took to the streets on Monday, protesting against what they claim was widespread fraud during the October 9 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The EU observers have called on Mozambique’s election authorities to ensure that votes are counted “in a transparent and credible manner” while guaranteeing traceability of results at each polling station.
Opposition Candidate’s Lawyer Killed in ‘Targeted Attack’
Adding to the growing tension, Venancio Mondlane, a presidential candidate, accused the country’s security forces of murdering his lawyer, Elvino Dias, over the weekend. In a video posted to social media, Mondlane claimed that “the Defence and Security Forces” were responsible for the death of Dias, stating that special forces shot him “25 times.”
Dias, who had been preparing to contest early election results that showed the ruling Frelimo party leading in the polls, was killed in the early hours of Saturday. According to witnesses, Dias and Paulo Guambe, a member of the Podemos party supporting Mondlane, were in a car in the capital, Maputo, when they were surrounded by multiple vehicles and shot dead. Mondlane has since declared that “there is a price on my head” and warned of ongoing threats to his life.
‘Restraint’ Urged Amid Rising Tensions
In light of the recent killings and the growing unrest, the EU observers have called for “utmost restraint by all” parties involved. Their statement condemned the deaths of Dias and Guambe and expressed concern over the escalating violence in the country. The United States has also denounced the killings, urging a “swift and thorough investigation.”
“We join the calls made by all four of Mozambique’s national political parties in demanding accountability for these crimes,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
The African Union and Portugal, Mozambique’s former colonial ruler, have also condemned the killings. Meanwhile, the US remains Mozambique’s largest bilateral donor, providing over $560 million in annual aid.
Frelimo’s Dominance and Alleged Election Fraud
Frelimo, the ruling party, has maintained control of Mozambique since the nation gained independence from Portugal 49 years ago. President Filipe Nyusi, 65, is stepping down after serving two terms, with his party’s new candidate, 47-year-old Daniel Chapo, widely expected to win the election.
However, opposition candidate Mondlane, 50, has called for nationwide protests, urging his supporters to “paralyse the country” on Thursday and Friday to demonstrate against the “profoundly false” election results he expects to be announced. On Monday, Mondlane also called for a general strike and joined a group of protesters in Maputo, where police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Electoral violence is not uncommon in Mozambique. Just last year, several people were killed in clashes following local elections, where Frelimo also emerged victorious.
With official election results expected later this week, tensions remain high, and the nation waits to see how authorities will handle the mounting allegations of fraud and violence.
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