The crisis in Mozambique has deepened as protests against last month’s presidential election turned violent, leaving at least 40 people dead, including 10 children. Among the victims was 16-year-old Antonio Juaqim, whose funeral was held at São Francisco Xavier Cemetery in Maputo on Saturday.
Antonio was fatally shot during the protests, with his uncle, Manuel Samuel, describing CCTV footage that allegedly captured police firing at demonstrators.
The unrest erupted following the re-election of President Daniel Chapo of the Frelimo party, who secured 71% of the vote. Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who garnered 20%, rejected the results, alleging electoral fraud. Now in exile, Mondlane has urged his supporters to protest nightly by banging pots and pans, a call that has resonated across the streets of Maputo since November 15.
Mozambique’s police commander, Bernardino Raphael, acknowledged the loss of lives but accused opposition groups of using children as shields, claiming officers acted in self-defense. However, human rights advocates and opposition figures have criticized the police for excessive force, with many believing the crackdown serves to protect the ruling party.
Albino Forquilha, leader of the Optimist Party and a Mondlane ally, remarked, “It feels as though the police are being used to protect the ruling party.”
The protests, fueled by frustrations over unemployment and economic stagnation, reflect growing discontent with Frelimo’s decades-long dominance. “The youth are demanding financial independence, not historical narratives about liberation,” said Borges Nhamirre, an analyst with the Institute for Security Studies.
As Mozambique confronts its most significant political turmoil in three decades, opposition leaders are calling for the election results to be annulled. Meanwhile, the nightly demonstrations persist, underscoring the nation’s despair and defiance.
