Mozambique inaugurates new president amid deadly unrest

Author: Agencies

Mozambique’s new president Daniel Chapo took the oath of office Wednesday in front of a heavily guarded audience of dignitaries in the capital Maputo following weeks of violent demonstrations over the fiercely disputed election result.

Chapo, 48, extends his Frelimo party’s 50-year rule of the gas-rich African nation amid claims by opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane that the vote was rigged, which sparked unrest that an NGO says has left more than 300 dead.

Taking the oath, Chapo vowed “to devote all my energies to defending, promoting and consolidating national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people”.

But on the eve of the inauguration, Mondlane threatened to “paralyse” the new government with daily demonstrations following his earlier calls for a national strike in the days leading up to the ceremony.

Mondlane, 50, who is popular with the youth, maintains the October 9 polls were rigged in favour of the Frelimo party, which has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975.

“This regime does not want peace,” Mondlane said in an address on Facebook Tuesday, adding that his communications team was met with bullets on the streets this week.

“We’ll protest every single day. If it means paralysing the country for the entire term, we will paralyse it for the entire term.”

Chapo called for stability on Monday, telling journalists at the national assembly “we can continue to work and together, united… to develop our country”.

International observers have said the election was marred by irregularities, while the EU mission condemned what it called the “unjustified alteration of election results”.

Neighbouring South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the inauguration, while former colonial ruler Portugal sent Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.

Ahead of the ceremony, Maputo-based political and security risk analyst Johann Smith told AFP that an absence of a large number of foreign heads of state “sends a strong message”.

“Even from a regional point of view, there is a hesitancy to acknowledge or recognise that Chapo won the election,” Smith said.

Security forces blocked roads throughout Maputo and around Independence Square, where the swearing-in was held.

The extent of the unrest from now on “depends on how Chapo will tackle the crisis”, analyst Borges Nhamirre told AFP.

The inauguration of parliamentary lawmakers Monday was held amid relative calm. The streets were deserted Monday, with most shops closed either in protest against the ceremony or out of fear of violence, while military police surrounded the parliament building and police blocked main roads.

Still, at least six people were killed in the Inhambane and Zambezia regions north of the capital, according to local civil society group Plataforma Decide.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Sports

Maidaan Saaf’ at ICC Champions Trophy 2025; a commitment to leave the stadiums clean

_Lahore, Pakistan – 18 February 2025:_ International Cricket Council (ICC) and Waste Management Companies of…

5 hours ago
  • Business

SIFC facilitates $2B investment talks between Pakistan and Azerbaijan

The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is leading talks for potential investment deals valued at…

14 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Bilawal says US can help restore Pakistan-India trade and dialogue

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed that Pakistan can act as a…

14 hours ago
  • Top Stories

Earthquake tremors felt in Zhob and surrounding areas of Balochistan

Tremors from an earthquake were felt in Zhob and surrounding areas in Balochistan. The Seismological…

14 hours ago
  • Arts, Culture & Books
  • Pakistan

Armaghan’s startling revelations in the Mustafa Amir murder case go viral

In an exchange outside the court, Armaghan, the suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder case,…

14 hours ago
  • Top Stories
  • World

Vatican confirms Pope undergoing treatment for complex respiratory infection

Pope Francis is receiving specialised hospital treatment for a “polymicrobial infection” affecting his respiratory tract,…

14 hours ago