Two prominent figures from Mozambique’s opposition party Podemos were killed in a targeted shooting in the capital, Maputo, intensifying tensions just days before planned nationwide protests against disputed election results.
Elvino Dias, a lawyer for Podemos, and Paulo Guambe, a party official, were shot dead on Saturday when gunmen fired multiple rounds at their vehicle in the Bairro Da Coop neighborhood. The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) and Human Rights Watch confirmed the killings, which are seen as a chilling message to opposition supporters ahead of Monday’s planned strike.
“They were brutally assassinated in cold blood,” said Adriano Nuvunga, director of the CDD, in a phone interview with Reuters. “Approximately 10 to 15 bullets were fired, and they died instantly,” he added, suggesting the attack was meant to intimidate those challenging the election outcome.
The opposition party Podemos, led by presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, has rejected preliminary results that show a likely victory for Frelimo, the party that has governed Mozambique for over 50 years. Podemos has called for a nationwide strike on Monday to protest what they claim was a rigged election process.
Frelimo, which has not commented on the attack, faces growing criticism from international observers who have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Reports of vote-buying, intimidation, inflated voter rolls, and lack of transparency have drawn scrutiny from Western nations. The European Union and Mozambique’s former colonial power, Portugal, have both condemned the killings and urged authorities to investigate the attack.
The murders mark an escalation in political violence in Mozambique, where opposition protests have often been met with force. Mozambique’s security forces are known to have used live ammunition against demonstrators in the past, including during protests following last year’s local elections.
Alex Vines, Africa Program Director at Chatham House, called the killings a “serious escalation” and warned of rising tensions ahead of Monday’s protest. Many fear that the demonstrations could turn violent as frustrations over the election mount.
The full results of the election are expected on October 24, but with tensions at an all-time high, the coming days could be pivotal for Mozambique’s political future.
