Mozambique President-elect Daniel Chapo has announced a national reconciliation dialogue initiative in an attempt to quell escalating violence and restore investor confidence following a contentious election, Bloomberg reports.
His announcement comes after the Constitutional Council officially declared him the winner of the October 9 poll with 65% of the vote, a decision that has ignited further protests and unrest across the southeastern African nation.
The 47-year-old lawyer and former provincial governor is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 15 and faces an immediate crisis.
“I am launching a national reconciliation and dialogue initiative,” Chapo said in an interview hours after his victory was confirmed.
The post-election turmoil has severely impacted the country. Protests have paralyzed the nation’s largest port, disrupted mining operations, and cast a shadow over a crucial $20 billion natural gas export project led by TotalEnergies SE. Standard Bank Group Ltd.’s local unit is projecting an economic contraction for the next two quarters, which would further strain Mozambique’s already fragile public finances.
Demonstrations have intensified, with protesters setting fire to the offices of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) in Macia, a town north of the capital, Maputo. Roadblocks using burning tires have been established, and reports and social media footage show numerous buildings, including government institutions and a bank branch, engulfed in flames.
A key element in the path towards peace will be reaching an agreement with opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who has been orchestrating the protests via live stream since fleeing the country on October 21st. The Constitutional Council awarded Mondlane 24% of the vote, an outcome he has denounced as fraudulent. Mondlane has warned of escalated demonstrations this week and has declared a nationwide “work cancellation” until Friday.
While Chapo plans to initiate talks with political leaders, including Mondlane, he will wait until after his inauguration to do so. Chapo has not yet committed to including the opposition in a unity government, citing the need to consult with his party, Frelimo, which has been in power for 49 years. While Mondlane has previously expressed a willingness to consider a national unity government, he has stated he will not accept any position under Frelimo rule.
International and local election observers have voiced concerns about the election, citing instances of vote rigging, ballot-box stuffing, and result manipulation. Although the Constitutional Council acknowledged some irregularities, it deemed them insufficient to alter the election’s outcome. The US State Department has described the process as “flawed.”
Beyond the unrest, Chapo will inherit a government struggling with outstanding bills. He has declared restoring peace a top priority to get the economy back on track. In an attempt to reassure investors, especially those involved in major natural gas projects, he has also promised policy and legal stability.
