Mozambique: Opposition disputes presidential election result October 29 /update 4

Event

On Tuesday, October 29, Mozambique's main opposition party, Renamo, called for an annulment of the October 15 presidential election amid allegations of electoral fraud. Renamo filed an official appeal to the Constitutional Council on Tuesday against the National Election Commission (CNE), which declared incumbent Filipe Nyusi of the Frelimo party the winner of the election with 73 percent of the vote. In the parliamentary elections, Frelimo won 184 of the parliament's 250 seats, while Renamo came in second with 60 seats.   

Political demonstrations and rallies are possible throughout the country in the coming days following the appeal. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are expected near any protest site.

Context

The October 15 general elections allowed citizen to vote for provincial governors for the first time, as set in the Maputo Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement signed between Renamo and Frelimo leaders on August 6. The agreement formally ended months of fighting between Renamo rebels and the Defense and Security Forces. Despite this peace agreement, the electoral campaign was one of the most violent in Mozambique's history, killing at least 10 people and triggering a recrudescence of tensions between the two frontrunners.

Advice

Individuals in Mozambique are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid any protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.