Venâncio Mondlane, Mozambique’s main opposition leader, has announced that he will take office as president on 15 January, rejecting his defeat in the country’s recent presidential elections.
His statement comes amid violent protests across Mozambique, with supporters demanding an end to the 49-year reign of the Frelimo party.
On Christmas Eve, the capital, Maputo, resembled a ghost town, with nearly all businesses closed and residents staying home to avoid the escalating violence—some of the worst unrest the city has seen since Frelimo came to power in 1975. Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories have been looted, vandalized, and set on fire across the country. 
The unrest erupted after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, in the disputed October elections. Mondlane had previously challenged the results, accusing the election of being rigged.
In a Facebook live broadcast on Tuesday, Mondlane declared that he would assume the presidency on 15 January, the same day Chapo is scheduled to be sworn in. Current President Filipe Nyusi is set to step down after completing two terms.
It remains unclear how Mondlane, who is currently in self-imposed exile, plans to take office. Despite being in exile, he has continued to rally his supporters through speeches on social media, urging them to remain peaceful, though protests have turned violent.
“We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane assured his followers.
The October election was the first presidential race for both Mondlane and Chapo. The electoral commission initially declared Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote, compared to Mondlane’s 20%. However, the constitutional court revised the results, giving Chapo 65% and Mondlane 24%.
Rights groups have reported that over 100 people have died in the violence since the election, with many blaming the security forces for the fatalities. Police, however, have defended their actions, stating they were only responding to attacks.
Mondlane fled Mozambique in October after accusing the police of threatening behavior, following the deaths of two of his aides. A former evangelical pastor, Mondlane contested the election as an independent after leaving the opposition Renamo party. His support is largely among young, unemployed Mozambicans seeking change.
Chapo, Frelimo’s youngest-ever presidential candidate at 47, has dismissed any claims of election rigging, stating, “We are an organized party that prepares its victories.”
Read More:
