Violence erupted in Nampula, northern Mozambique, today, October 16th. The situation became chaotic during the visit of presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane to the city. The unrest comes just a week after the country’s hotly contested general elections, heightening political tensions in the region.
Mondlane arrived in Nampula early Wednesday morning to a warm welcome from supporters. However, the initially peaceful demonstration quickly spiralled out of control, resulting in clashes with local law enforcement.
March Turns Violent
Trouble began on Avenida 25 de Setembro. Eyewitnesses report that protesters confronted officers from the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM). The situation rapidly escalated, forcing authorities to employ crowd control measures.
“We had to intervene to maintain public order,” said Rosa Nilsa Chaúque, a PRM spokesperson. She declined to provide further details. She stated that a full report would be issued once the situation was fully under control.
The confrontation left several people injured and led to multiple arrests, including a local representative of PODEMOS/CAD, Mondlane’s political coalition. Property damage was also reported, though the full extent remains unclear.
Candidate Seeks Refuge
During the turmoil, sources claim that Mondlane himself sought refuge in a nearby private residence, apparently to evade police detention. Meanwhile, the PODEMOS party headquarters in the Mutauanha neighbourhood has been placed under heavy police surveillance.
Source: Ikweli, a daily electronic newspaper based in Nampula City
Egidio Vaz | Comms Strategist 