Clashes in Mozambique as opposition protests election ‘fraud’

Police person fired teardrop state astatine protesters successful Mozambique successful the biggest objection yet against the long-ruling Frelimo party, which was declared the victor of disputed elections past month.

Anger has mounted since predetermination authorities said Frelimo won the October 9 vote, extending its 49 years successful power. Human rights groups said astatine slightest 18 radical person been killed successful the constabulary crackdown connected protests since then.

The wide predetermination was hotly contested with galore young radical supporting autarkic statesmanlike campaigner Venancio Mondlane, who said the ballot was rigged and called for a week of protests culminating connected Thursday. Civil nine groups and Western observers besides said the predetermination was unfair and results were altered.

On Thursday, police utilized teardrop gas to disperse thousands of protesters successful the capital, Maputo.

Mondlane – a 50-year-old erstwhile vigor presenter who, according to authoritative results, mislaid to Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo – said it was a “crucial moment” for the country.

“I consciousness that determination is simply a revolutionary ambiance … that shows that we are connected the verge of a unsocial humanities and governmental modulation successful the country,” Mondlane said from an undisclosed location. He said helium could not disclose his whereabouts different than to accidental helium was not successful Africa.

The Mozambique Bar Association warned determination were “conditions for a bloodbath” connected Thursday arsenic a dense information beingness was deployed crossed the capital. It is location to more than 1 cardinal people, but it resembled a shade municipality arsenic shops, banks, schools and universities were closed.

Authorities person restricted net entree crossed the state successful an evident effort to “suppress peaceful protests and nationalist disapproval of the government”, according to Human Rights Watch.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk besides warned against “unnecessary oregon disproportionate force”, saying constabulary should “ensure that they negociate protests successful enactment with Mozambique’s planetary quality rights obligations”.