Mozambique: At least 27 killed in post election protests from 13 to 20 Nov. – NGO

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Mozambique: At least 27 killed in post election protests from 13 to 20 Nov. – NGO

3:46 CAT | 21 Nov 2024

Image: Plataforma Decide

The electoral platform Decide estimated on Thursday (21-11) that 27 people died, more than half in Maputo, in demonstrations against the results of the October elections , in the period from 13 to 20 November. The platform reports, for the same period, 39 people being shot and 198 people being arrested.

According to Platforma Decide, between 13 and 20 November, a period of new protests called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, seven deaths were recorded in the province of Nampula (north), two in Zambézia province and three in Manica (centre), as well as ten in the province of Maputo and five in the capital (south).

Of the total of 39 people injured by gunfire, 10 were recorded in protests in Nampula, five in Zambézia, ten in Manica province, four in the province of Maputo and five in the capital itself, the non-governmental organisation also indicated.

The platform also reports 198 detainees, 48 in Maputo (city and province), 34 in Sofala (centre), 30 in Manica province and 25 in Zambézia province.

Data from the 4th phase of demonstrations (13-20/11)#MozambiqueElections #MozambiqueProtests pic.twitter.com/Rs8lrqGiSM

— Plataforma_decide (@PDecide23) November 20, 2024

Mondlane called on Mozambicans to observe three days of national mourning until Friday for the “50 fatalities” in the post-election demonstrations, including a 15-minute car-stop-and-honking protest.

“We will stop all vehicles and honk in tribute to our heroes from 12:00 to 12:15. Those who do not have vehicles can hold up posters demanding the restoration of electoral truth at traffic lights and in the middle of the streets […],” Mondlane appealed.

The victims were “shot by the authorities who were supposed to protect them,” he said. “It is not just like 50 people die and society remains unmoved and serene,” Mondlane added; they “died like heroes, like martyrs of a revolution”.

Mondlane disputes the awarding of victory to Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo, with a supposed 70.67% of the vote, according to the results announced on October 24 by the National Electoral Commission, yet to be validated by the Constitutional Council.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi said on Tuesday that there had been more than 200 post-election demonstrations in the “last few days,”, leaving 807 people injured and 19 dead.

“I appeal to the young, and I repeat, the young, adolescents and children, to no longer be used for disputes that should be resolved in institutions, at the appropriate time,” Nyusi said in a message to the nation lasting around 45 minutes on the “situation of the country in the post-election period.”

The head of state’s “preliminary assessment” enumerates “more than 200 demonstrations marked by the vandalism of public and private property, robbery, looting of commercial establishments, burning of tires [and] blocking of public roads.”

“These figures are the indirect consequence of the wave of violence. But the riots also cause direct harm to people. As a result, 807 citizens were injured, of whom 66 were members of the PRM [Police of the Republic of Mozambique]. We regret the loss of the lives of 19 fellow citizens, five of them members of the PRM,” he added.

Despite the provocation of the demonstrations and protests, Nyusi nevertheless called on the police to focus on restraint and “non-violent intervention”.

“You must continue to serve their people. The use of force should only be used in extreme situations to defend lives and the national economy. We do not want situations to occur in which we will all lose out,” the president said.

Source: Lusa