Maputo, Mozambique – A tense atmosphere grips the capital as the country anxiously awaits the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the outcome of October’s contested presidential election.
The announcement of the initial result sparked weeks of deadly protests, and now, the nation stands on edge.
Venâncio Mondlane, who came second in the official count, has spent the past two months rallying his supporters against what he alleges to be a rigged election. 
The independent candidate, now in exile, fled Mozambique after police allegedly threatened him, following the shooting deaths of two of his aides in October.
In a weekend message, Mondlane warned of a “new popular uprising” should the court fail to overturn the election results. As protests have escalated, Maputo’s streets, usually bustling with activity, have become eerily quiet, with roadblocks appearing across the city in anticipation of further unrest.
The Constitutional Court is set to announce its ruling at 15:00 (13:00 GMT), with Mondlane adamantly rejecting the 71% victory of Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo. Mondlane secured 20% of the vote, but he claims the process was marred by fraud. While the electoral commission denies these allegations, international observers have pointed to irregularities in the vote counting.
The protests have led to violent confrontations with security forces, resulting in at least 110 deaths, according to local group Plataforma Decide. Many of the casualties are believed to have been victims of police actions, although authorities maintain that their officers acted in self-defense.
In a message to the largely Catholic population, Pope Francis called for dialogue and unity in the wake of the violence. Mondlane’s talks with President Filipe Nyusi continue, though the outcome remains uncertain.
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