Mozambican court sets January 15 for Daniel Chapo inauguration as president
Daniel Chapo, presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo party leaves with his wife, Gueta Chapo after casting their vote during the general elections at Inhambane, in southern Mozambique on October 9, 2024. He has been declared the winner of the elections.
What you need to know:
- The on-going situation in Mozambique forced 3,000 people to flee their homes, including seeking safety in neighbouring countries.
Mozambique’s Constitutional Council (CC) has officially set Thursday January 15 as the date for the inauguration of the country’s next president, despite international calls that the elections were not fair, free and transparent and fair.
Opposition parties in Mozambique also said the elections were not free.
On December 23, the CC confirmed Daniel Chapo of the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) as the winner of the October 9 election with 65.17 percent of the vote.
Mr Chapo will replace President Filipe Nyusi. Frelimo also retained its parliamentary majority in the October 9 general elections.
According to the non-governmental organisation, Decide Electoral Platform, 277 people have been killed and 586 injured in the post-election chaos since October 21.
“Mozambicans deserve elections that are free of violence and that reflect the will of the people,” the US State Department said after the CC ruling.
“Civil society organisations, political parties, the media, and international observers, including those from the United States, cited significant irregularities in the tabulation process, as well as concern about the lack of transparency throughout the election period.”
The US also called on all stakeholders to refrain from violence and to engage in meaningful cooperation to restore peace and foster unity.
Independent presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, backed by the Podemos party, rejected the results announced by the CC. He got 24.19 percent of the vote.
Mr Mondlane, who is leading the protests from abroad, recently said on social media that he would take office on January 15.
According to CC, Renamo leader Ossufo Momade received 6.62 percent of the vote and MDM leader Lutero Simango managed 4.02 percent.
The on-going situation in Mozambique forced 3,000 people to flee their homes, including seeking safety in neighbouring countries.
According to UN refugee agency UNHCR, more than 3,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety in neighbouring countries. About 2,000 people have fled to Malawi and another 1,000 to Eswatini in the past week.
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc), which has been accused of turning a blind eye to the post-election conflict in Mozambique, said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned by the continuing loss of life, injuries, destruction of private property and public infrastructure in the southern African country.
Countries such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia have been affected by the protests because they use Mozambican ports to import and export their products.
In a statement, the chairperson of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, added that the current situation has also caused significant economic challenges to the nation, disrupted cross-border trade and hindered the free movement of people.
“We therefore appeal for an immediate cessation of all hostilities, while reiterating the importance of prioritising the well-being and livelihoods of the Mozambican people,” she said.
Sadc also called on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that escalate violence and unrest.
