Paulo Rangel affirmed that the Government is following the situation in Mozambique “step by step” and “with great concern.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs asked the Mozambican authorities to restrain themselves.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, stated this Monday that the Portuguese Government continues to follow the situation in Mozambique “with great concern” and asked for restraint from all political forces and authorities in the country.
“We continue step by step, with great concern,” said Paulo Rangel, referring to the latest events in Mozambique, where in the last few hours demonstrations called by the opposition candidate for the October 9 elections, Venâncio Mondlane, were dispersed by the police
Mozambican police also fired tear gas at the place where Venâncio Mondlane was giving statements to journalists, forcing the politician to flee.
Protests in Mozambique. The police attack the protesters and launch tear gas against the candidate Venâncio Mondlane
Paulo Rangel recalled that last week Portugal already condemned “very categorically” the violence that led to the murder of Venâncio Mondlane’s legal advisor and agent and has now asked for restraint from “all political forces and all authorities”, to guarantee “the regularity and stability in the electoral process.”
“It is essential for Mozambique that the electoral process goes well and that it gives rise to legitimate authorities respected by all”added the Portuguese minister, who was speaking to journalists in Madrid, where this Monday he met with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, and with the Defense Ministers of Portugal and Spain, Nuno Melo and Margarita Robles.
Portugal strongly condemns the murders of Podemos leader Paulo Guambe and lawyer Elvino Dias. The people of Mozambique legitimately exercised their right to vote. Living up to their civic maturity implies guaranteeing the peaceful and orderly nature of the subsequent process.
— PT Foreign Affairs (@nestrangeiro_pt) October 19, 2024
Rangel added that the latest events in Mozambique are also worrying “because the press has been affected in its work,” reiterating that the Government is following the situation with concern.
“It is essential that the entire electoral process (…) develops in an orderly, legal and regular manner. Mozambique has a democracy that needs to be affirmed,” he highlighted, adding that, in this context, there is violence, “the need for police intervention”, lack of respect or “interventions that could endanger stability” is something that “is of great concern.” ” to the Portuguese government.
Venâncio Mondlane claims victory in the elections and called for peaceful marches this Monday, after the double murder of his followers.
“The atrocious crime” in Mozambique: six questions about the “ambush” that “tainted” the presidential elections
Since Monday morning, the Mozambican police have been dispersing protesters who intend to repudiate Friday’s murder with tear gas.
The Mozambican police confirmed to Lusa on Saturday that the vehicle in which they followed Elvino Dias, Venâncio Mondlane’s lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, representative of Podemos, the party that supports the candidate, who were shot dead, was “ambushed.”
The general elections of October 9 included the seventh presidential elections simultaneously with the legislative elections and for provincial assemblies and governors.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has 15 days to announce the official results, a date that is October 24, and then it is up to the Constitutional Council to announce the results, after also completing the analysis of possible appeals, but without a defined deadline. for this purpose.
In a joint statement published after the meeting this Monday in Madrid of the MNE and the Defense Ministers of Portugal and Spain, it is stated that the two countries “regret the murders that occurred last weekend in the post-electoral context in Maputo” and hope that “Mozambican justice acts quickly and effectively.”
Portugal and Spain “also call for moderation and the renunciation of any form of violence”considering it essential that citizens can wait with serenity and security for the official announcement of the results of the last elections” in Mozambique.
Source: Observadora
