Mozambique Elections: EU ‘concerned’ about violent dispersal of protests

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Mozambique Elections: EU ‘concerned’ about violent dispersal of protests

2:22 CAT | 21 Oct 2024

Photo: Luisa Nhantumbo/Lusa

The European Union (EU) on Monday described as “very worrying” the “reports of violent dispersal” of a demonstration in Maputo, the Mozambican capital, called by candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and said that it “continues to monitor” the developments of the situation.

“The reports of violent dispersal are very worrying,” said a spokesperson for the EU executive in a response sent to Lusa, calling for “maximum restraint” from all parties involved in the electoral process and “respect for fundamental freedoms and political rights”.

“The EU continues to monitor developments in Mozambique, following the shocking murders of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe,” added the spokesperson.

Mozambican police today fired tear gas at the location where presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane was making statements to journalists, appealing for calm during the march he had called, forcing the politician to flee.

The candidate was speaking to journalists near the Mozambican Women’s Organization roundabout, at the beginning of Avenida Joaquim Chissano, in the centre of Maputo.

The protesters who were at the location were trying to form a human cordon, but the police fired tear gas again.

One journalist was injured in this action, after another had also been injured in a police charge earlier in the morning.

At around 10:00 a.m. local time, the police dispersed the demonstration in the centre of Maputo called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane to condemn the murder of two supporters, charging dozens of people who had gathered at the scene, who responded by throwing stones and setting off fireworks.

The peaceful marches were called by Venâncio Mondlane on Saturday at the site where two supporters were murdered, stating that the strike in the public and private sectors that he had called for today, in protest against the preliminary results of the elections of 9 October, was to continue, now taking to the streets, and he blamed the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) for the double murder.

The Mozambican police confirmed to Lusa on Saturday that the vehicle in which Elvino Dias, Venâncio Mondlane’s lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, leader of Podemos, the party that supports Mondlane, were travelling and were shot dead, was “ambushed”.

The general elections on 9 October included the seventh presidential election – in which the current head of state, Filipe Nyusi, who has reached the limit of two terms, has not run – at the same time as legislative elections and elections for provincial assemblies and governors.

The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has 15 days to announce the official results, which is due on 24 October. The Constitutional Council will then be responsible for announcing the results, after also concluding its analysis of any appeals, but there is no set deadline for this purpose.

Source: Lusa