Hundreds of opposition supporters in Mozambique staged a protest on Wednesday during the inauguration of the country’s new president, following contested elections and violent unrest.
Daniel Chapo was sworn in as Mozambique’s fifth president in a ceremony attended by about 2,500 people who braved intense heat outside the city hall in the capital, Maputo.
Nearby, opposition demonstrators held a peaceful protest after being blocked from the venue by security forces armed with guns and batons. Authorities sealed off several roads and maintained a strong presence across other parts of the city.
Chapo, a 48-year-old law graduate, emphasized the urgency of addressing the country’s instability.
“Social harmony cannot wait, nor can building consensus on issues that concern the Mozambican people. Dialogue has already begun, and we will not rest until we achieve a united and cohesive country,” he said.
In December, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council declared Chapo the winner of the presidential election with 65.17% of the vote, dismissing a challenge by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who reportedly secured 24%.
The elections sparked a wave of protests and a violent crackdown by security forces, leaving at least 300 people dead, including many children, according to human rights groups.
Mondlane, a 50-year-old pastor, has been mobilizing protests through social media platforms like Facebook, demanding the “restoration of electoral truth.” Western nations, including the United States, have also expressed concerns about the credibility of the election process.
