Mozambique’s highest court has upheld the victory of the ruling party Frelimo in the October election, which led to widespread protests by opposition groups claiming electoral fraud.
The Constitutional Council confirmed Daniel Chapo, the candidate of Mozambique’s ruling party, as the winner with over 65 percent of the vote. This decision contradicts the National Election Commission’s initial results, which had Chapo at 71 percent.
Frelimo also increased its majority in parliament as a result of the election.
Chapo, who is 47 years old, is set to assume office in January as the first President born after independence.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane alleges that the October 9th election was manipulated in favor of Frelimo, insisting that a recount shows he actually garnered enough votes to win.
During the election, international observers criticized the lack of fairness and transparency. The European Union observers specifically mentioned the “unjustified alteration” in the electoral process.
The final decision of the nation’s top court is likely to trigger further protests in Mozambique, a country of around 35 million people that Frelimo has governed since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975.
Since the October election, clashes with police have resulted in the deaths of at least 130 individuals, according to the civil society monitoring group Plataforma Decide.
