Mozambique Elections: European Commission calls for restraint

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Mozambique Elections: European Commission calls for restraint

12:09 CAT | 27 Nov 2024

File photo: Lusa

The European Commission on Tuesday called for restraint from all parties involved in the electoral process in Mozambique, deploring the spread of violence and considering that the “brutality of the repression” of the demonstrations has exacerbated the situation.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said that the European Union must “speak frankly” with the Mozambican government: “Among trusted partners, we cannot remain silent in the current situation.”

“Since the elections of 9 October, we are witnessing a worrying spread of violence, looting, vandalism, and desperation. The brutality of the repression from the state apparatus and the police has exacerbated the situation. We deplore the considerable number of fatalities over the past weeks. We also condemn the assassination of two opposition politicians on 19 October” said Helena Dalli, insisting that the European Union demand an investigation and “clarity” on the facts regarding the murders of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe.

“It is imperative for all sides to maintain restraint and orderly conduct. While it is important that everybody’s voice is heard, harsh rhetoric and the disproportionate use of force and violence from all sides should be avoided at all costs,” Dalli said.

The EU commissioner considered that “the electoral process is far from finished” and said that until the final results were known, the European Union would remain vigilant.

READ: Mozambique: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on the political and humanitarian situation in the country – Watch

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for demonstrations to contest the results of the October 9 general elections announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) – which still need to be validated by the Constitutional Council – which degenerated into clashes with the police, who have resorted to firing tear gas and gunfire to disperse the protesters.

On October 24, the CNE announced the victory of Daniel Chapo, a candidate supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), with 70.67% of the votes, awarding second place, with 20.32% of the votes, to Venâncio Mondlane, a former Renamo deputy now supported by the extra-parliamentary Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos).

According to the Mozambican electoral monitoring NGO, Plataforma Eleitoral Decide, by Saturday, at least 67 people had died and another 210 were shot in a month of protests contesting the results of the general elections in Mozambique.

According to the update released on Saturday by the platform, there were at least 1,326 arrests in Mozambique in the wake of the protests from October 21 to November 21, with an update still pending from the Mozambican Bar Association, which has been providing legal assistance to those detained.

Source: Lusa