The lawyer of a prominent Mozambique opposition politician, along with an opposition party official, were killed by gunfire on Saturday, following a recent election that was marred by allegations of fraud and intimidation against opposition parties.

Elvino Dias, the first victim of the attack, had been a lawyer for Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane. Paulo Guambe, who succumbed to injuries from the attack later, was a senior official from the PODEMOS party in Maputo. The attack took place late Friday night when assailants in multiple vehicles allegedly pursued and opened fire on the car carrying Dias and Guambe. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and there are allegations that police obstructed medical assistance.

The attack has intensified political tensions in Mozambique, as opposition groups prepare for protests against disputed election results, which are set to be announced on October 24th. Preliminary outcomes suggest a likely victory for the long-ruling FRELIMO’s candidate Daniel Chapo, amid widespread accusations of vote rigging and suppression of dissent. PODEMOS has responded by calling for a nationwide strike on Monday to protest these results, escalating fears of violence as the protests approach. The killings have underscored the volatile political climate in Mozambique, where accusations of electoral fraud and intimidation continue to undermine the country’s democratic processes.

Human rights organizations have condemned the killings, characterizing them as politically motivated assassinations aimed at intimidating those advocating for electoral integrity. The Mozambican Bar Association described the incident as a “barbaric” attack on democracy and called for a thorough investigation into the murders.