The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 02, 2025
Today: April 02, 2025

Mozambique president sworn in as post-election protest deaths rise

January 15, 2025

By Manuel Mucari and Thando Hlophe

Demonstrations against Mozambique's newly elected President Daniel Chapo, in Maputo

MAPUTO (Reuters) -Daniel Chapo of Mozambique's long-ruling Frelimo party was sworn in as president on Wednesday at a sparsely attended ceremony, as the death toll from months of protests against his disputed election victory climbed.

A local civil society monitoring group said at least seven more people were killed in clashes with security forces on Wednesday, raising the cumulative death toll since the Oct. 9 vote above 300.

The opposition says Frelimo won the election through vote-rigging and Western observers say it was not free and fair. Frelimo denies accusations of electoral fraud.

It has ruled Mozambique since the end of the war against Portuguese colonial rule in 1975, clinging on throughout a 15-year civil war that killed a million people before a 1992 truce.

Chapo told a group of about 1,500 supporters from a stage in the capital Maputo that social and political stability would be his government's top priority.

He also promised to shrink the size of the government by reducing the number of ministries, tackle youth unemployment and prioritise health and education.

The city centre was largely deserted with a heavy police and army presence, Reuters witnesses said.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of neighbouring South Africa, was one of the few heads of state attending Chapo's inauguration.

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who official results say came second to Chapo in the presidential election, returned from self-imposed exile last week and has urged his supporters to continue demonstrating.

The post-election protests amount to the largest against Frelimo in Mozambique's history and have affected foreign businesses operating in the resource-rich southern African country of 35 million people. They have also disrupted cross-border trade and forced some to flee to neighbouring countries.

(Additional reporting by Custodio Cossa in Maputo and Bhargav Acharya in Johannesburg; Writing by Tannur Anders; Editing by Alexander Winning and Mark Heinrich)

Share This

Popular

Africa|Business|Economy

Ghana consumer inflation eases to 22.4% in March

Ghana consumer inflation eases to 22.4% in March
Africa|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets

South Africa's rand falls further after DA says budget talks break down

South Africa's rand falls further after DA says budget talks break down
Africa|Business|Economy|Finance

Nigeria's net FX reserves hit three-year high, central bank says

Nigeria's net FX reserves hit three-year high, central bank says
Africa|Election|Political|World

Gabon junta leader Nguema seeks democratic legitimacy in post-coup vote

Gabon junta leader Nguema seeks democratic legitimacy in post-coup vote

Political

Election|Political|US

Scott Jennings' takeaways from special elections in Florida and Wisconsin

Scott Jennings' takeaways from special elections in Florida and Wisconsin
Europe|Political|World

Putin calls up 160,000 men to Russian army in latest conscription drive, at crucial moment in Ukraine war

Putin calls up 160,000 men to Russian army in latest conscription drive, at crucial moment in Ukraine war
Business|Economy|Election|Political|US

The Latest: Trump set to announce new tariffs in what he calls โ€˜Liberation Dayโ€™

The Latest: Trump set to announce new tariffs in what he calls โ€˜Liberation Dayโ€™
Business|Economy|Entertainment|Political|US

New York's casino sweepstakes could put $115M in Donald Trump's pocket

New York's casino sweepstakes could put $115M in Donald Trump's pocket

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In