Mozambique Court Confirms Daniel Chapo as President; Opposition Warns of 'Chaos' Amid Election Protests

Dec 23, 2024, 03:10 PM

Mozambique's Constitutional Council has confirmed the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the disputed October 9 general election, officially declaring Daniel Chapo as the country's next president with 65.17% of the vote. The announcement came at 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) on December 23, upholding the initial results despite weeks of protests and allegations of electoral fraud by the opposition. Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who has rejected the results and called for 'Turbo V8' mass protests, warned of potential 'chaos' following the court's decision. The country has been on edge ahead of the ruling, with security forces on high alert and law enforcement agencies on standby at key border posts. The election dispute has led to a political crisis marked by widespread protests and over a hundred deaths. Daniel Chapo is set to succeed President Filipe Nysui, whose second term ends on January 15, extending Frelimo's nearly five-decade hold on power.