Immigration authorities in Mozambique have confiscated the diplomatic passport of opposition leader Venancio Mondlane following his return to the country, his legal adviser disclosed on Friday.
Dinis Tivane, Mondlane’s legal representative, announced on Facebook that the passport was seized on Thursday at Maputo International Airport. Tivane claimed that the authorities acted on orders intended to “intimidate and hold him in the country.”
Mondlane, who had been abroad since the disputed October 9 presidential elections, has reportedly lost his parliamentary status. The opposition leader has accused the ruling Frelimo party, led by President Daniel Chapo, of electoral fraud. 
Mounting a Legal Challenge
Tivane vowed to pursue legal action against the seizure. “We are going to mount a legal challenge to discover who really gave this ‘illegal order.’ We will not rest until justice is delivered in our favor,” he stated.
Mozambique has been engulfed in unrest since October 21, with opposition supporters disputing Chapo’s election victory. Official results awarded Chapo 71% of the vote, later revised to 65% by the Constitutional Council, affirming his win but further fueling protests.
Escalating Unrest and Casualties
The ongoing political crisis has led to violent clashes, leaving nearly 300 people dead since the protests began. Civil society organizations and election monitoring groups report that most casualties resulted from gunfire by security forces.
Mondlane continues to reject the election results and has called for sustained protests against what he describes as an illegitimate regime.
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