At least five people have died and three others have been critically injured during widespread protests in Mozambique, including in Maputo, Nampula, and Zambezia, according to police reports. Orlando Mudumane, spokesperson for the Police General Command, confirmed that clashes erupted between security forces and demonstrators armed with stones, knives, and machetes.
The protests were organized by Venancio Mondlane, a former presidential candidate who lost in the October 9 elections. Mondlane, now in exile in South Africa, has alleged that the election results were fraudulent and has declared himself the legitimate winner. He called for a week of nationwide protests from December 4 to 11, urging demonstrators to disrupt key infrastructure including roads, railways, ports, and airports to “restore the truth about the elections.”
The unrest has raised concerns of significant economic disruption. Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi warned that the protests could hinder public sector salary payments, particularly for teachers and healthcare workers, due to Mozambique’s ongoing financial struggles and lack of external support.
In the city of Matola, tensions escalated following the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy by a plainclothes police officer. This led to residents blocking access to the Beleluane Industrial Park, where Mozal, a major aluminum exporter, is located, temporarily halting the company’s truck operations.
