Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, was rocked by violence Tuesday when police opened fire on a crowd during a protest called by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane. According to AFP journalists and witnesses, two individuals were killed in the clash. The protest, the first significant demonstration organized by Mondlane in weeks, was sparked by grievances over the October presidential elections, which Mondlane claims were rigged in favor of President Daniel Chapo.
Mondlane, who finished second in the contested election, has long asserted that he was deprived of victory through electoral fraud. International observers have noted several irregularities in the elections, intensifying political unrest in the country. The protests that followed, which Mondlane called in response, have already resulted in over 360 deaths, according to the local civil society group Plataforma Decide.
Earlier this month, at least 14 people were injured when police used live ammunition to disperse another opposition march. The situation remains tense as protests against the government’s handling of the elections continue to escalate.
