Mozambique’s newly elected president, Daniel Chapo, will be sworn into office on Wednesday, despite ongoing protests and claims of electoral fraud. The country has seen weeks of deadly unrest following the October 9 election, with opposition leader Venancio Mondlane vowing to intensify demonstrations to challenge the disputed result.
Mondlane, who remains popular among young people, has threatened to paralyze the country with daily protests. He insists that the election, in which Chapo’s Frelimo party claimed a victory, was rigged in favor of the ruling party. “We will protest every single day, and if it means paralyzing the country for the entire term, we will,” Mondlane declared on Facebook. He also claimed his communications team was shot at while trying to report on protests this week.
Chapo, 48, has called for unity and stability, urging the country to move forward together. “We can continue to work and develop our country, united,” he told journalists at the national assembly on Monday.
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International observers have voiced concerns about the election’s integrity. The European Union mission condemned what it called the “unjustified alteration of election results,” while local organizations reported at least 300 deaths linked to the unrest since October, with security forces accused of using excessive force against demonstrators.
The inauguration is expected to be a low-key event, with foreign dignitaries, including South Africa’s president, staying away in protest. However, Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel is expected to attend. “This sends a strong message,” said Johann Smith, a Maputo-based political analyst.
The swearing-in ceremony comes after a calm inauguration of lawmakers on Monday, though many businesses in the capital, Maputo, were closed in protest or fear of violence. Military police were deployed around the parliament building, and six people were reported dead in the Inhambane and Zambezia regions following clashes between protesters and security forces.
With tensions high, political analysts suggest that Chapo may offer concessions, such as appointing opposition members to key government positions, to ease the unrest. However, Mondlane remains excluded from dialogue talks initiated by Chapo and outgoing President Filipe Nyusi. “I’m here in the flesh to say that if you want to negotiate… I’m here,” Mondlane said upon his return to Mozambique last week after a period in hiding.
Official results show Chapo won 65% of the vote, while Mondlane secured 24%. However, Mondlane insists that he actually won 53%, alleging that the electoral institutions manipulated the outcome. Frelimo also holds a dominant position in the 250-seat national assembly with 171 seats, while Mondlane’s Podemos party secured just 43.
