Why Mozambique's election has sparked weeks of protests and a violent crackdown by police

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Thousands protested successful Mozambique's capital connected Thursday and information forces responded by firing tear state and rubber bullets, as weeks of post-election unrest continued successful nan confederate African country.

The protests were sparked by a ballot past period that will support nan ruling statement successful power for much than a half-century amid allegations of rigging.

Opposition parties and galore citizens person rejected nan results of the Oct. 9 statesmanlike election arsenic fraudulent and increasing protests successful nan capital, Maputo, and different cities have been met by deadly force from police. Thursday's protestation was nan biggest yet.

International authorities groups opportunity astatine slightest 20 group person been killed by constabulary since nan unrest began astir a period ago, while section groups opportunity nan decease toll is much than 50. Authorities are threatening to deploy nan service arsenic protesters group fires connected nan streets and pain ruling statement offices.

The net is being restricted and societal media sites person been blocked, according to Human Rights Watch. Neighboring South Africa has unopen its separator station pinch Mozambique and heightened information astir it.

The campaigner for nan ruling Front for nan Liberation of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, was declared nan victor of nan statesmanlike predetermination connected Oct. 24. That keeps nan party that has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal successful 1975 successful powerfulness for different 5 years.

Even earlier nan results were announced, guidance parties claimed fraud, accusing nan ruling party, known arsenic Frelimo, of ballot stuffing, manipulating elector lists and staffing polling stations pinch officials loyal to it. Frelimo has agelong been accused of rigging elections successful nan state of astir 34 million.

The European Union's perceiver team said location were irregularities successful nan election, including nan altering of immoderate results. Mozambican media has reported that nan Constitutional Council, nan ultimate assemblage for predetermination law, has asked nan committee that ran nan predetermination to explicate discrepancies.

Independent campaigner Venancio Mondlane, who was 2nd down Chapo successful nan charismatic results, has led disapproval of nan vote. He called for a nationalist onslaught and for group to enactment astatine location successful nan days aft nan predetermination successful protestation astatine nan alleged tampering. But nan temper changed erstwhile two elder guidance figures were killed successful their car successful a late-night shooting by unidentified gunmen connected Oct. 18.

The men who were killed were nan lawyer for Mondlane and nan charismatic spokesperson for nan governmental statement that supported Mondlane successful nan election. Mondlane said they were assassinated and he and guidance supporters gathered adjacent nan tract of nan killings nan time aft to protest. Police fired tear state canisters astatine Mondlane, his aides and journalists who were interviewing him, forcing them to flee.

Since then, location person been waves of protests crossed nan country. In 1 city, protesters toppled and trim nan caput disconnected a statue of existent President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down aft serving a maximum 2 terms.

Mondlane said connected societal media that he had gone into exile successful fearfulness for his life aft nan sidesplitting of his lawyer. His whereabouts are unknown, but he has called connected societal media for much protests “so that we tin past beryllium freed from these shackles that person held america up for 50 years.”

Authorities person said small different than nan protests person been convulsive and needed to beryllium quelled. They person not fixed accusation connected nan number of group killed aliases injured successful nan protests.

Rights groups accused nan constabulary of shooting astatine serene protests successful nan days aft nan predetermination and said children were among nan victims. Anger among guidance supporters has swelled. The statesmanlike palace is nether dense guard.

Mozambique is still successful nan protector of a bloody 15-year civilian warfare nan leftist Frelimo fought against rebel group Renamo aft independence. The state only held its first elections successful 1994 and this was nan first ballot wherever location were nary equipped groups connected to governmental parties aft a process to disarm militias.

The country, which has rich | earthy resources including large, recently discovered earthy state fields, was already struggling pinch a yearslong insurgency by an Islamic State-affiliated group successful nan bluish state of Cabo Delgado.

Mondlane, who collapsed distant from Renamo, has support among Mozambique's disaffected younker and he and nan caller Podesa statement that is backing him person go nan biggest situation to Frelimo's agelong rule.

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