Over the past weeks we have fielded several calls from our clients requesting a status update on the current political unrest in Mozambique. As with all events of national importance, let us attempt to provide you with a summary of the current situation as we see it.
Mozambiquans from all provinces went to the polls on Wednesday, 9th October 2024 in the seventh national general elections.
Post-elections tensions began on the 10th of October when Venâncio Mondlane, an independent candidate supported by the leading opposition party PODEMOS, claimed victory. On the 19th of October, two prominent opposition figures were killed in Maputo. And then, five days later, on Thursday, October 24th the Mozambican election commission finally announced that Daniel Chapo and the ruling party FRELIMO had won the general elections.
On hearing this outcome, civil disobedience, widespread strikes and demonstrations ensued and logistics services in general have been disrupted as a result of the unrest. International bodies like the African Union, European Union, and United Nations have all condemned the actions and urged the government to ensure the safety of its citizens.
The international community remains on watch, though the response from regional and global bodies has so far been limited to statements condemning the violence, with no substantial intervention yet. Observers are calling for urgent mediation to prevent the crisis from escalating further.