Police and soldiers vs. protesters in Mozambique

​A protester looks on near a burning barricade during a "national shutdown" against the election outcome, in Maputo, Mozambique, on Nov. 7, 2024.
A protester looks on near a burning barricade during a "national shutdown" against the election outcome, in Maputo, Mozambique, on Nov. 7, 2024.
REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
In Mozambique, the opposition has accused the ruling FRELIMO party of stealing the country’s Oct. 9 election, and protests have since led to violence. Human Rights Watch, a nongovernmental watchdog, says that confrontations between demonstrators and police so far have killed at least 18 people. On Thursday, police used tear gas to disperse protesters in Maputo, the country’s capital.

The published results of the election found that FRELIMO’s Daniel Chapo won nearly 71% of the vote. His main opponent, independent candidate Venancio Mondlane, was given 20.3%, and opposition party RENAMO’s candidate, Ossufo Momade, came in third with 5.8%.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Wednesday that police and soldiers patrolling the streets of Maputo may be increasing tensions to dangerous levels. “The police must refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force and ensure that they manage protests in line with Mozambique’s international human rights obligations,” Türk said.

Fearing the spread of unrest, South Africa has closed, partially reopened, and then reclosed its border with Mozambique this week.

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: Trump’s latest tariffs hit Canada hard—harder than even China. What’s behind this decision, and how are Canadians fighting back? Ian Bremmer breaks down the economic and political implications in this Quick Take.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb smiles during an event with a blurred "World Economic Forum" background. The text art reads: "GZERO World with Ian Bremmer—the podcast."

Listen: In Davos, world leaders face a new reality: Europe must rethink its Trump strategy. Finnish President Alexander Stubb joins Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World Podcast to discuss.

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2025.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The move throws a bomb into three of the world's biggest trading relationships, prompting retaliation. In short, the US has launched a trade war.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a leader of the democratic opposition of Belarus, is seen here in Krakow, Poland, in 2022.

Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Reuters

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for more than 30 years and just won another election widely regarded as rigged. Why are the streets of Minsk quiet? Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who continues to advocate for democracy and increased Western pressure on the Belarusian regime from Lithuania, talked to GZERO’s Alex Kliment about the road ahead.

Thousands of people take part in a protest against CDU Leader Friedrich Merz and his action to vote with AFD to tighten immigration policy in Duesseldorf, Germany, on January 30, 2025. The poster reads "Hey Merz, Judas would be proud of you!"
Ying Tang/NurPhoto

Friedrich Merz cooperated with the Alternative for Deutschland party in order to pass new limits on immigration.

Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, January 30, 2025.
Photo by Allison Bailey

Kash Patel faced intense questioning on Thursday during his Senate confirmation hearing for FBI director and attempted to distance himself from past controversial statements and to address concerns about how he would run the powerful law enforcement agency.

Salwan Momika, an anti-Islam activist, gestures as he speaks, in Malmo, Sweden, September 3, 2023.
TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS

5: At least five people have been arrested in Sweden in connection with the murder of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi Christian extremist known for burning Qurans in public and leading anti-Islam protests.