Mozambique deployed soldiers to support police after nearly three weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election, as rights monitors reported dozens of deaths in a crackdown on the unrest. Human Rights Watch said at least 30 people were killed from October 19 through November 6, a figure that did not include violence during major demonstrations on November 7.
A separate count from Mozambique’s Centre for Democracy and Human Rights placed the overall toll at 34. Maputo Central Hospital said three people were killed and 66 injured in clashes in the capital on Thursday. Dino Lopes, the hospital’s adult emergency director, said 57 of those injuries were possibly caused by firearms. Four people were hurt in falls, three through physical assault and two with sharp weapons. Most patients were between 25 and 35 years old, while some were as young as 15.
The demonstrations followed the October 9 election. Mozambique’s electoral authorities declared ruling-party candidate Daniel Chapo the presidential winner with more than 70 percent of votes on October 24. Opposition groups and election observers alleged that the contest was unfair and manipulated. The Constitutional Council had not yet validated the result, a step required before it could receive official recognition.
Thousands of demonstrators erected barricades and set fires in Maputo during the largest protest since the vote. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets as some protesters threw stones. Human rights organizations have accused Mozambican police of using live ammunition against political demonstrators, while the interior minister defended the authorities’ actions as necessary to restore order.
Military spokesperson General Omar Saranga said the armed forces would assist security services in maintaining public order and peace. Soldiers and police patrolled streets, and the presidential palace was placed under heavy guard. The deployment came as many residents stayed home amid uncertainty and disruption in the capital.
The dispute placed renewed pressure on Frelimo, which has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975. President Filipe Nyusi was due to leave office after serving the constitutional limit of two terms, with Chapo selected as the party’s successor. Critics said the reported election outcome would extend Frelimo’s rule to nearly half a century.
The different death counts covered different time periods and sources, making them difficult to compare directly. Human Rights Watch’s figure ended before the November 7 violence, while the local organization’s total was broader. What was clear from the hospital figures and security deployment was that the political confrontation had entered a dangerous phase, with protesters, authorities and medical services facing mounting consequences.
