AFRICA/MOZAMBIQUE - Protests continue: border crossing with South Africa closed

Maputo (Agenzia Fides) - "I have the feeling that there is a revolutionary climate that shows that we are on the eve of an unparalleled historical transition," says Mozambican opposition leader Venancio Mondlane about the ongoing demonstrations that began in the southern African country after the October 9 elections.
The victory of "FRELIMO" (Mozambican Liberation Front, in power since 1975), which won both the presidency and the majority in parliament with the election of its candidate Daniel Chapo, is being fiercely contested by the opposition, which denounces electoral fraud.
Mondlane, candidate of the opposition "PODEMOS" party, has called on the population to take to the streets in protest and reports that an assassination attempt was planned against him in South Africa, where he had sought refuge (see Fides, 5/11/2024).
Mozambican security forces, meanwhile, responded by using tear gas and police operations, but gunfire was also reported on protesters.
According to the Mozambican Doctors' Association, 10 citizens were shot dead and 73 others injured across the country between October 18 and 26. On November 5, another 9 people were killed by police gunfire in the capital Maputo and elsewhere. Other professional groups, such as the Lawyers' Association, have also expressed concern about the possible consequences, saying that "the conditions are there for a bloodbath" and calling for the annulment of the October 9 elections to be considered.
In an attempt to contain the spread of the protests, internet access has been cut off at irregular intervals. However, this does not prevent the demonstrations from spreading in particular forms, such as the "pot protests", in which citizens bang pots on the windows of their homes, creating a deafening noise in the streets of Mozambican cities.
Meanwhile, the Mozambican-South African border crossing in Lebombo has been closed after several trucks from South Africa were vandalized. About 500 stranded drivers are receiving humanitarian aid from the Red Cross. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/11/2024)

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