Amnesty International called on Mozambican authorities to end attacks on protesters and journalists during nationwide demonstrations after it was announced that Daniel Chapo and the ruling party Frente de Libertação de Moçambique (FRELIMO) won the country’s general elections on October 9.

Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for East and Southern Africa, said:

Mozambique’s authorities must immediately halt their escalating assault on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Across the country, police have cracked down on opposition protests with live bullets, tear gas and arbitrary arrests. Medical groups report at least ten people killed and dozens wounded. Hundreds have been arbitrarily arrested.

The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) said it had detained 371 people during demonstrations held on Thursday, October 25, where at least 20 people were injured. 

FRELIMO was found to have won the election with 71 percent of the votes, while opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane had only 20 percent. On October 28, Mondlane and the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique filed an official challenge demanding a recount, alleging vote rigging. 

Mondlane has called for seven days of protests starting October 31. “Attempts to crush peaceful dissent with force risk exacerbating an already dire human rights situation. Mozambique’s authorities must immediately halt their escalating assault on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Khanyo Farisè.