Venancio Mondlane, the Mozambican opposition leader, announced on Sunday evening his return from self-imposed exile.
Mondlane, who has been coordinating demonstrations against the October election results, revealed he will arrive in Maputo on January 9, inviting supporters to welcome him at the capital’s airport.
“I was not away from Mozambique out of fear,” Mondlane said, adding that he had to leave the country to organize the protests. “I will be there. This is the spearhead.”
The protests, which erupted in late October, have disrupted the nation’s economy, severing trade routes and stalling energy exports. According to Standard Bank Group, the unrest likely triggered economic contraction in the last quarter of 2024 and may continue to impact growth in 2025.
The contested election results declared Daniel Chapo, the ruling party’s candidate, as the winner, with his inauguration scheduled for January 15. Meanwhile, Mondlane has postponed his promised “spearhead” phase of demonstrations but assured supporters he would personally lead renewed actions. He has also criticized the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for delays in addressing the crisis.
SADC convened a meeting over the weekend, mandating its Panel of Elders to mediate between the Mozambican government and opposition leaders. Led by Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, the panel is set to report back by January 15.