Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has declared he will run for president on January 15 after rejecting his defeat in presidential elections.
His announcement came as his supporters staged violent protests across the country to demand an end to the Frelimo party’s 49-year rule.
The capital Maputo resembled a ghost town on Christmas Eve, with almost all shops closed and people staying at home to avoid being caught up in the worst unrest in the city since Frelimo came to power with independence in 1975.
Frelimo offices, police stations, banks and factories were looted, destroyed and set on fire across the country.
The latest unrest began on Monday after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of Frelimo presidential candidate Daniel Chapo in October elections.
Mondlane had disputed the result, claiming the poll was manipulated.
In a Facebook Live broadcast to his supporters on Tuesday, Mondlane said he rejected the Constitutional Court’s ruling and added that he would assume the office of president on January 15 – the day Chapo is scheduled to be sworn in.
President Filipe Nyusi will step down at the end of his two terms in office.
It is unclear how Mondlane plans to take office as he is currently in self-imposed exile in an unknown country.
He has often rallied his supporters through live speeches on Facebook but urged them to remain peaceful.
“We are on the side of the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane said in his recent address.
Chapo has not yet commented on his statement.
The October election was the first time for both of them to run for president. The electoral commission declared Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote, compared to Mondlane’s 20%.
The Constitutional Court revised the result and gave the Frelimo candidate 65% and Mondlane 24%.
Human rights groups say more than 100 people have been killed in unrest since the election.
They accuse security forces of being responsible for many of the killings, but police commander Bernadino Rafael had previously told the BBC that his officers had defended themselves after they were attacked.
Mondlane fled Mozambique after accusing police of threatening behavior, and two of his aides were shot dead in October.
The 50-year-old Protestant pastor ran in the election as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition party, Renamo.
His support is strongest among young people, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.
Frelimo nominated the 47-year-old Chapo as its youngest presidential candidate ever.
He had previously dismissed suggestions that he and Frelimo had rigged the poll, saying: “We are an organized party that is preparing its victories.”
