The meeting convened by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi with the presidential candidates on Tuesday, November 26, aimed at addressing the ongoing post-election crisis, ended after only a few minutes and achieved no resolution. The absence of Venâncio Mondlane, the leading opposition figure and organizer of post-election protests, further undermined the session’s objectives.
Since the general elections on October 9, Mozambique has been gripped by widespread unrest. Protests against alleged electoral fraud have been met with heavy repression, leaving around 60 people dead, according to civil society reports. Political tensions remain high as three of the four presidential candidates oppose the election results, which declared Daniel Chapo, the ruling Frelimo party’s candidate, as the winner.
The candidates from the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) and Renamo, the main opposition parties, demanded that the election results be annulled as a prerequisite for dialogue. They also insisted on the presence of all candidates at the meeting. However, independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who is in exile, refused to attend unless his conditions were met. His demands included an end to legal proceedings against him, compensation for victims of police repression, and the option to participate via videoconference.
At 4:30 PM, shortly after the meeting concluded, Mondlane addressed his followers in a live Facebook broadcast. He confirmed his absence, explaining, *“I have not received any official response to my terms.”* He revealed that he had submitted a proposed agenda to the presidency, which included topics suggested by more than 40,000 Mozambicans via email over the past week. These topics ranged from electoral fraud and police violence to broader issues like housing, terrorism, and poverty. *“The Mozambican people want to know what they will eat and where they will sleep,”* Mondlane emphasized, accusing President Nyusi of lacking genuine intent for meaningful dialogue.
Mondlane also announced new protest measures for the coming days. Beginning Wednesday at 8:00 AM, he urged Mozambicans to place posters supporting electoral protests on their vehicles and leave them on the streets as a form of peaceful demonstration.
This ongoing political impasse underscores the deep divisions in Mozambique and the challenges of finding a resolution to the contentious election.