On November 5, Mozambique’s Defense Minister Cristóvão Chume acknowledged that Security Forces may have used “excessive force” to manage recent protests but emphasized that the response aligned with the level of protester aggression.
“We recognize that there may have been cases where police or Defense and Security Forces exceeded necessary force, and we are actively investigating why certain officers may have overstepped during the demonstrations”, C. Chume stated.
The Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) also criticized the police response, calling the protests a legitimate exercise of fundamental rights and condemning what it saw as a “disproportionate” response that could fuel further unrest. Chume, however, described the demonstrations, led by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, as “violent” and stressed the Defense and Security Forces’ responsibility to uphold public order. He also urged protest organizers to prevent minors from participating.
Mondlane, who disputes the October 9 election results, organized a week of protests starting October 31, with further marches planned for November 7 in Maputo. Earlier protests on October 21, 24, and 25 led to clashes with police, resulting in at least ten deaths, numerous injuries, and around 500 arrests, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
The National Elections Commission (CNE) declared Daniel Chapo, from the ruling Frelimo party, the winner with 70.67% of the vote, while Mondlane received 20.32%. Mondlane, Ossufo Momade of the opposition party Renamo, and Lutero Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) have all rejected the results, calling for the annulment of the vote and planning legal or political actions to contest the outcome, which still awaits validation by the Constitutional Council.