A monitoring group has reported that unrest following Mozambique’s recent elections has claimed 261 lives, with police gunfire responsible for most of the casualties.
Though the capital, Maputo, showed signs of relative calm on Friday, other regions, such as the northern port city of Nacala, witnessed renewed violence, said Wilker Dias, head of the Decide Platform, which has been documenting the situation.
The country has been grappling with protests since late October, when election officials declared the ruling party’s overwhelming victory. The opposition rejected the outcome, alleging widespread manipulation of the vote.
Security forces have used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, and nearly half of the deaths were recorded after the Constitutional Council reaffirmed the ruling party’s victory earlier this week.
President-elect Daniel Chapo has stated his readiness to engage in discussions following his 15 January inauguration. Speaking on Friday, he reaffirmed his position, stating:
“We will, soon, work together on solutions to the problems generated by this sad situation,” while promising to be a “president of all” Mozambicans.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged political leaders in Mozambique to prioritise meaningful dialogue, renounce violence, and work towards a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis.
Reports from the state broadcaster indicated that Maputo was gradually returning to normal by Friday.
The unrest has significantly impacted Mozambique’s economy. The country’s Eurobond, maturing in 2031, dropped by 0.8% to 80.7 cents on the dollar, its lowest value in over a year and the second-worst performance among sovereign bonds tracked by Bloomberg.
Widespread damage has also been reported, with businesses looted and burned, and disruptions to mining operations, gas exports, and one of the region’s largest aluminium smelters.
In northern Mozambique, a major ruby mine—responsible for nearly half the global supply—suspended activities on 24 December after hundreds of people attempted to breach the site.
Two individuals were fatally shot during clashes with security forces, the mine’s operator, Gemfields Group Ltd., confirmed. The company hopes to resume normal operations before the year ends.
Despite a temporary lull in violence, Wilker Dias of the Decide Platform warned that the death toll could rise as new incidents come to light.
One such incident involved a warehouse fire on Maputo’s outskirts on Wednesday. According to the state-owned Noticias newspaper, 11 charred bodies were found, with the fire believed to have started during looting.
Dias also cautioned that tensions could spike again around Chapo’s inauguration next month. Separately, the Mozambique Bar Association called for “genuine dialogue and compromises based on respect for our differences.”
