Daniel Chapo Sworn in as Mozambique’s President Despite Election Controversy

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Mozambique’s political landscape took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as Daniel Chapo was officially inaugurated as the nation’s president. However, the ceremony unfolded under a cloud of tension, with the main opposition vowing to resist the election results through relentless protests.

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who recently returned from self-imposed exile, has been a vocal critic of the election process. Just a day before the inauguration, Mondlane accused the government of violently suppressing dissent, claiming that his supporters faced “bullets on the streets.” Speaking on Facebook, he declared, “This regime does not want peace. We will protest every single day. If it means paralyzing the country for the entire term, we will do so.”Daniel Chapo Sworn in as Mozambique's President Despite Election Controversy

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The October 9 election, which propelled Chapo to victory, has been widely criticized by international observers and civil society groups. Electoral monitoring organization Plataforma DECIDE reported that over 300 lives have been lost in post-election unrest. Meanwhile, the European Union’s observer mission flagged significant irregularities, particularly during the vote counting process and the announcement of results.

Despite the controversy, some African leaders expressed support for Chapo’s administration. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló attended the inauguration in Maputo. Ramaphosa, upon his arrival, emphasized the need for unity, stating that the event offered “an opportunity for all the people of Mozambique to work together towards peace, democracy, and development.”

Meanwhile, civil society organizations, including the Pan-African Lawyers Union, have petitioned the African Union to withhold recognition of Chapo’s presidency, citing the allegations of electoral fraud.

In his first remarks as president, Chapo called for calm and unity. “We can continue to work together, united, to develop our country,” he told reporters on Monday. However, achieving this vision may prove challenging, given the opposition’s determination to disrupt the administration

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