Maputo, Mozambique - On Monday, Mozambique police used teargas and fired live bullets at protesters in the capital city, Maputo, during a demonstration sparked by the deaths of two opposition party figures who were shot on Saturday. The killings occurred in the aftermath of a contested national election held on October 9.
Adriano Nuvunga, director of Mozambique's Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, confirmed that two journalists and a security guard were struck by bullets during the protest but were not seriously injured.
With full results from the election expected later this week, early figures indicate a likely win for the ruling Frelimo party, which has governed Mozambique since its independence in 1975. Opposition candidates have disputed the results, claiming the poll was rigged, a charge Frelimo denies despite mounting accusations of electoral fraud from opposition leaders, civil society groups, and election observers.
U.S.-based election observers criticized the election process, stating it fell short of international democratic standards. Reports of vote buying, voter intimidation, and inflated voter rolls were among the major concerns raised.
“The police are turning this into a violent protest because they are firing at us. We are here to demand that the truth about the election is upheld,” said Vladimir Manhique, a 32-year-old car mechanic and one of the protestors. "This is a way to demonstrate that enough is enough. This regime must fall."
The demonstration, which saw several hundred participants, included burning red Frelimo flags and rock-throwing. Mozambique's police have a history of using live ammunition during political protests, with a similar incident occurring last year when authorities defended their actions as necessary to maintain order.
Independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who had called for a national strike on Monday, acknowledged the widespread participation. He urged the demonstrators to return home after the police clash, calling for a peaceful resolution to the unrest.