The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns the Portuguese in Mozambique of social unrest following the presidential elections. “Increased safety precautions” are requested.
This Wednesday, the Portuguese Government updated the warning issued on the 25th to national citizens who are in Mozambique to avoid crowds and maintain greater safety precautions, given the social unrest experienced in that country.
“In view of the social instability that has occurred in some cities in Mozambique, the recommendation is reiterated that Portuguese citizens in Mozambique avoid popular gatherings and maintain greater security precautions,” reads the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. , available on the Portuguese Communities Portal.
The notice adds that “for the period between October 31 and November 7, it is recommended to take appropriate precautionary measures in the face of the possibility of restrictions on access to services and commerce. It is also recommended that potential travel be properly considered and prepared.”
The ministry adds that, if necessary, these Portuguese will be able to contact the consular emergency numbers of the Consulates General of Portugal in Beira and Maputo, as well as the Consular Emergency Office in Portugal.
A similar alert was published today by the Portuguese School of Moçambique (EPM-CELP) on its Facebook social network page.
Invoking “security reasons”, EPM-CELP announces that all its services will be in remote work mode between October 31 and November 8, inclusive.
In this sense, classes will be taught online, through the Teams platform.
“The Management (of EPM-CELP) will monitor the situation daily and, if necessary, will issue a new statement,” the statement concludes.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Mozambique announced last Thursday the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, a party in power since 1975) in the elections for President of the Republic on October 9 , with 70.67 votes. % of the votes.
Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique ( Podemos, extra-parliamentary), came in second place, with 20.32%, but stated that he does not recognize these results, which have yet to be validated and proclaimed by the CC.
Frelimo also reinforced its parliamentary majority, going from 184 to 195 deputies (out of 250), and elected the country’s 10 provincial governors.
In addition to Mondlane, the president of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo, the current largest opposition party), Ossufo Momade, one of the four presidential candidates, said that he does not recognize the electoral results announced by the CNE and called for the vote to be canceled.
Last Thursday, presidential candidate Lutero Simango, supported by the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), also rejected the results, considering that they were “forged in the secretariat”, and promised “political and legal actions” to restore the “will popular”.
Mondlane began by calling a “general strike” to protest the results announced by the CNE, but, after the murder of Elvino Dias, his lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, leader of the Podemos party, which supports him, he called his followers. to the streets, causing clashes between protesters and police in various parts of the country, with deaths, injuries and arrests.
The Center for Public Integrity (CIP), a Mozambican non-governmental organization that monitors electoral processes, estimates that ten people were killed, dozens injured and around 500 arrested, in the context of protests and clashes during the strike and demonstrations. on Thursday and Friday. , which followed similar violent clashes on October 21.
Venâncio Mondlane called for new strikes and protests for a period of one week starting Thursday, culminating in a national demonstration on November 7 in Maputo.
Source: Observadora
