President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique has urged opposition leader Venancio Mondlane to join discussions aimed at resolving the deadly post-election crisis. This followed a meeting with three other presidential candidates from the disputed October 9 election.
Mondlane, believed to have left the country after the vote, previously stated he would only participate virtually if certain conditions were met, including dropping legal charges against him over post-election violence. On Facebook, he said he had yet to receive a response to his demands or a link to attend the talks online.
Mondlane, leader of the opposition, has alleged that the election was rigged in favour of the ruling Frelimo party, whose candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%.
The disputed results have sparked weeks of protests, with a local rights group reporting at least 65 deaths in a police crackdown. Nyusi, however, has said the death toll stands at 19, including five police officers.
Nyusi emphasised the importance of Mondlane’s participation in resolving the crisis:
“If we knew where he was, I could suggest that we meet him there, but we don’t know where he is,” Nyusi told reporters after the meeting. “We will endeavour to ensure that he is here. If the country has to be stable for his safety, then we’ll do it.”
The outgoing president, set to complete his second and final term in January, is expected to hand over power to Chapo.
Mozambique’s government, led by Frelimo since independence in 1975, faces accusations from rights groups of using excessive force to suppress demonstrations in the resource-rich nation.
