Mozambique police clash with election protesters, tear gas deployed: Video
On Saturday, November 2, hundreds of protesters in Maputo, Mozambique's capital were dispersed by police using tear gas and rubber bullets.
The demonstrations erupted following the announcement of the election results, which saw the ruling party, FRELIMO, declared victorious in 64 out of 65 municipalities during the October 9 elections.
The protests, led by the main opposition party RENAMO, began peacefully but quickly escalated as demonstrators clashed with heavily armed riot police.
The unrest has not been limited to Maputo. Similar protests have been reported in other parts of the country, including the port city of Beira and the province of Gaza.
Clashes between protesters and police were reported in Nampula, nearly 2,000 kilometres from the capital, after around 500 people took to the streets to contest the election results.
For an unnamed male protester who spoke to AFP in Maputo, the nation's state was too depressing to go back into the hands of FRELIMO.
"We have had bad governance for over 50 years, we are miserable, while the people suffer, the government lives well (well). They send their sons to study abroad while we, Mozambicans, stay here in a very bad education system, the hospitals are bad, the police are bad, the murders, the kidnapping perpetrators, we are tired of all this. Who has the rights? Please, come and help, the Mozambican people are suffering," he stated.
The election, held on October 9, 2024, has been marred by allegations of irregularities and violence. Two prominent opposition figures were killed in the lead-up to the vote, further fuelling tensions.
