The death toll from post-election violence in Mozambique has risen to 151, following a surge in unrest since Monday.
The country’s interior minister, Pascoal Ronda, confirmed that 21 additional people have died, and 20 more have been injured since the nation’s top court upheld the ruling party’s candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of the disputed October 9 presidential election.
Ronda reported a staggering 236 incidents of serious violence across Mozambique, with the latest deaths adding to the toll.
The violence erupted after the Constitutional Council confirmed Chapo’s victory, reducing his win margin from 71% to 65%.
This decision sparked widespread protests, especially among supporters of exiled opposition leader Venancio Mondlane.
Protesters have been accused of targeting police stations and public institutions in their anger.
Despite calls for peace, the unrest intensified, resulting in further bloodshed and chaos throughout the country.
The violence began shortly after the country’s electoral body declared Chapo the winner of the election on October 21, triggering deadly protests that have plagued Mozambique ever since.
According to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group, these protests have claimed numerous lives, with no signs of the violence abating.
Mondlane, who remains in exile, had warned of “difficult days ahead” just days before the Constitutional Council’s ruling.
His warning has proven prophetic as Mozambique continues to struggle with the fallout from the contested election.
As the situation unfolds, the international community is closely monitoring the violence, urging calm and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
However, tensions remain high as both sides prepare for further clashes in the coming days.
