At least three people were killed and 66 others injured in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, following violent clashes with police on Thursday. The largest hospital in the city confirmed the casualties on Friday, November 8. These confrontations occurred amid ongoing protests over alleged electoral fraud tied to the October 9 polls, in which independent candidate Venancio Mondlane—backed by the Podemos party—placed second.
Amnesty International had already reported 20 deaths earlier in the week, bringing the total fatalities during these protests to at least 23. The protests, led by Mondlane, escalated throughout the week, culminating in Thursday’s unrest as thousands of demonstrators set fires and blocked roads across Maputo. In response, police used tear gas and rubber bullets, and Mozambique’s armed forces were deployed to manage the situation.
Earlier, the Constitutional Council ordered the National Elections Commission to address discrepancies in vote tallies across the three elections held last month. While incumbent President Filipe Nyusi of the Frelimo party has expressed openness to dialogue, he cautioned about the potential economic repercussions of the continuing unrest.