Post-electoral: Almost 1,000 nationals request asylum in Eswatini in last two months

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Post-electoral: Almost 1,000 nationals request asylum in Eswatini in last two months

2:17 CAT | 02 Jan 2025

File photo: Operation World

Almost a thousand Mozambicans have requested asylum in the Kingdom of Eswatini in the last two months due to the post-election crisis in Mozambique, the authorities of the country bordering Maputo said.

Since November, “a total of 911 refugees from Mozambique have been registered at the Malindza refugee centre,” reads a statement from the government of Eswatini, to which Lusa had access on Thursday.

At stake is the post-election crisis that Mozambique has been going through since October, with protests and stoppages that have culminated in violent clashes between police and demonstrators who reject the results of the October 9 elections, with almost 300 dead, according to civil society organisations that are monitoring the process.

According to the government of Eswatini, the group of Mozambicans who have been seeking asylum in that country is made up of people of all genders from different parts of Mozambique.

“It is important to note that these figures take into account the people who have been registered and have requested shelter in that refugee centre,” the note adds.

On 23 December, the Constitutional Council (CC) proclaimed Daniel Chapo the winner of the election for Mozambique’s president, with 65.17% of the vote, succeeding Filipe Nyusi in office, as well as the victory of Frelimo, which retained its parliamentary majority, in the general elections on 9 October.

This announcement sparked new chaos across the country, with pro-Venâncio Mondlane protesters, the presidential candidate who won 24% of the vote according to the CC, on the streets, barricading, looting and clashing with the police, who have been firing shots in an attempt to demobilise them.

At least 175 people have died in the last week of demonstrations, bringing the total number of deaths since 21 October to 277, and 586 people have been shot, according to the latest assessment by the Decide electoral platform, which is monitoring the process.

Mozambique’s new president is due to take office on 15 January and the presidential candidate leading the protests has promised to announce the next phase of the demonstrations, known as ‘Ponta de Lança’ (Spearhead), in detail today.

Source: Lusa