Mozambique Election Protests Renewed Following Failed Leaders’ Meeting

Mozambique is set to experience three additional days of protests initiated by an opposition leader, following his absence from a meeting with fellow candidates after last month’s contentious presidential election.

In the capital city of Maputo, roadblocks were established and public transportation services were disrupted as Venâncio Mondlane encouraged his supporters to commence another wave of protests beginning Wednesday. He proposed that individuals park their vehicles on major roads to transform them into “parking lots” for the duration of the day.

The protests, which commenced on October 21, have shaken the southeast African nation, which is currently facing its most fiercely contested election since the establishment of democracy in 1994.

The ongoing demonstrations indicate that Mondlane has managed to garner support, contrary to many observers’ expectations that the momentum would fade. This sustained unrest is impacting the already stressed state finances and threatens to delay a $20 billion natural gas-export project spearheaded by TotalEnergies SE.

“It’s unprecedented,” remarked Gustavo Plácido, an analyst at Horizon Engage in Lisbon, during a phone call on Wednesday. “I’m surprised by how long they’ve managed to keep the protests going.”

Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi had invited the presidential candidates to a meeting at the presidency on Tuesday to deliberate on the post-election circumstances. However, Mondlane, who left the country on October 21 and requested to attend virtually, stated he had not received a response regarding the agenda he proposed the previous week for the meeting.

The other two opposition candidates and the ruling Frelimo party’s Daniel Chapo attended the meeting with Nyusi, but they concurred that discussions could not proceed without Mondlane. As reported by the state-owned Mozambique Information Agency, the dialogue collapsed before it even commenced.

In a livestream on Tuesday that garnered 2.6 million views by the next morning, Mondlane urged supporters to return to their vehicles at 3:30 PM local time to sing the national anthem before heading home. He encouraged continued nighttime protests by banging pots and pans.

Television footage depicted the Praça dos Combatentes bus station, a key public transport hub in Maputo, overtaken by individuals playing soccer in what is usually a busy street, with no public transport in operation. In other parts of the city and neighboring Matola, protesters enacted roadblocks.

Official results indicated that the ruling party secured over 70% of the votes in the election, prolonging its 49-year governance, a result Mondlane has denounced as fraudulent.

The protests erupted after unidentified assailants shot and killed his lawyer, escalating further following the electoral commission’s announcement of the vote results on October 24. The Constitutional Council has yet to ratify the final result, which it is expected to do by December 23.

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