UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN MOZAMBIQUE

Fri 27 December 2024:

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the unrest in Mozambique, his associate spokesperson said Thursday.

“The Secretary-General is concerned about the post-election violence, which has resulted in loss of lives and the destruction of public and private property,” Stephanie Tremblay told reporters.

Guterres continues to follow developments closely, Tremblay said.

“He urges all political leaders and relevant national stakeholders to defuse tensions, including through meaningful dialogue and legal redress, refrain from the use of violence, and redouble efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in a constructive manner, which is essential to the collective future of Mozambicans,” she added.

Violent protests have rocked Mozambique since presidential polls were held on Oct. 9, resulting in the deaths of 248 people, including 33 in a prison break on Wednesday, according to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group.

More than 1,500 inmates fled Maputo Central Prison in Matola, located about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the capital Maputo, where police reported the casualties.

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Death toll in Mozambique protests, prison break climb to 248: Monitoring group

Death toll in Mozambique due to ongoing protests against disputed presidential election and a prison break has climbed to 248, a monitoring group said Thursday.

Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group in the southeast African country, said 248 people had lost their lives in the past 65 days since protests after the Oct. 9 presidential poll.

At least 33 people were killed on Wednesday when hundreds of inmates broke through the Maputo Central Prison in Matola, about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the capital Maputo.

Police chief Bernardino Rafael said at least 1,534 prisoners had escaped the correctional facility.

The prison held 29 “highly dangerous” terrorists who were among those freed during the escape, raising “serious concerns,” he added.

Mozambique has seen violent protests since late October, when the electoral authority declared 47-year-old Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote, defeating main opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who is in exile, and who received 20%.

Mondlane rejected the results, claiming widespread vote rigging and calling on his supporters to protest and has vowed to install himself as president on Jan. 15.

The months-long protests and recent attacks on gas stations by protesters have resulted in fuel shortages in Mozambique’s capital Maputo and the city of Matola.

There are reports of people from Mozambique fleeing to neighboring Malawi to seek refugee amid the violence.

-Source: AA

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