At least 21 people, including two police officers, were killed in Mozambique in a wave of post-election violence after the ruling Frelimo (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique) party's victory in the October 9 presidential election was confirmed, according to Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda.
The Constitutional Council's confirmation of Frelimo candidate Filipe Nyusi's victory, albeit with a reduced margin than initially reported, triggered immediate protests across the country. Ronda reported 236 acts of serious violence, including attacks on police stations and other infrastructure.
"Groups of armed men using bladed weapons and firearms have carried out attacks against police stations, penitentiary establishments, and other infrastructure," the minister told reporters, noting that over 70 arrests have been made.
In Maputo, clashes erupted between protesters and police, with protesters throwing objects and setting fires. Makeshift roadblocks were also ignited, shrouding parts of the city in smoke.
The violence extended to several northern provinces, including Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia, and Tete, with shops, banks, and other businesses having been looted and burned, according to media reports.