Mozambican police used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse a march led by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane in Maputo, injuring at least 14 people, including two children, according to civil society group Plataforma Decide.
Mondlane, who finished second in the October 2023 presidential election and claims he was cheated of victory, was leading a caravan to promote his new political party when security forces opened fire.
A live-streamed video captured gunshots and chaos as protesters fled in panic.
Eyewitnesses described the crackdown as an ambush, with some reporting that a child succumbed to gunshot wounds at the hospital.
The violence follows months of post-election unrest, during which international observers noted irregularities. More than 320 people have died in election-related violence since October.
Meanwhile, Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo party announced a political agreement with Podemos, the party that previously backed Mondlane, to stabilise the country.
