Mozambique’s opposition leader Venancio Mondlane announced on Monday that he is considering halting protests for five days to allow international organizations to investigate alleged human rights abuses by the police.
The country has been engulfed in violent protests since late October, following the controversial declaration of Daniel Chapo from the ruling Frelimo party as the presidential winner with 71% of the vote, defeating Mondlane, who claims victory. The Constitutional Council recently affirmed Chapo’s win but lowered his percentage to 65%, leading to further unrest.
Mondlane plans to announce the next steps for protests soon, with the protests escalating after the ruling. Meanwhile, neighboring South Africa has ramped up security along the border to prevent any criminal activity stemming from the ongoing unrest. The South African government is engaging Mozambique in diplomatic talks to find long-term solutions to the crisis.
At least 277 people have been killed in the violence, most from police gunfire, while hundreds of prisoners escaped from Maputo Central Prison last week, escalating concerns over security. The violence has prompted many to flee Mozambique into neighboring Malawi, which has taken in about 3,000 refugees so far. Fuel imports to Malawi have also been affected due to the ongoing protests.
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