Mozambique warns protesters ahead of election

Published: 7:53 PM, Oct 23, 2024

Units of the Mozambican anti-riot police deploy during a march called by the presidential candidate of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) in Maputo, on October 21, 2024. A demonstration was dispersed with tear gas on Monday in the capital of Mozambique, which took on the air of a ghost town after a call for a general strike launched by the opponent Venancio Mondlane to denounce fraud during the presidential election, noted AFP. This demonstration comes two days after the assassination of two of the opponent's close associates, including his lawyer who was preparing an appeal to denounce fraud in the election of October 9, the final results of which have not yet been published. (Photo by ALFREDO ZUNIGA / AFP)

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MAPUTO: Mozambique's president warned on Wednesday that calls for violent protests could be considered criminal acts as tensions grew ahead of the imminent release of election results. Leading opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane has called for 25 days of "terror" over the killing of his attorney as results from the October 9 ballot, likely to be published on Thursday, were expected to show the ruling Frelimo party winning.

"Inciting the population to revolt, misinforming the world and creating chaos for political purposes can be considered criminal acts," President Filipe Nyusi told reporters. While he said that Mozambicans have the right to protest, "news that the country will again demonstrate against a process that has not yet seen its outcome is unsettling." Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of people gathered outside Mozambique's capital to bury lawyer Elvino Dias who was killed alongside another opposition ally, Paulo Guambe. — AFP

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