‘Crucial Moment’

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Thousands of Mozambicans took to the streets of the capital Maputo on Thursday in the largest protest yet against the ruling Frelimo party, with police firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators who are furious over alleged fraud in the Oct. 9 general elections, Reuters reported.

Protesters blocked roads with burning tires, chanting “Power to the people” and “Frelimo must fall,” and holding signs supporting opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

Late last month, election officials declared Frelimo’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner with 71 percent of the vote, a victory that extended the party’s 49-year rule.

However, Mondlane countered he was the real winner and called for demonstrations protesting the results. He called the protests a “crucial moment,” saying that the country is on the verge of a “unique historical and political transition.”

Frelimo has faced previous accusations of vote-rigging. This time around, many Mozambicans are angered by what they see as a manipulation of the democratic process.

The Constitutional Council has yet to certify the results and ordered the electoral commission this week to clarify discrepancies in the counts across presidential, legislative, and provincial races.

The unrest has sparked concerns among human rights groups, who warned that police crackdowns on protesters have led to as many as 24 deaths since the election.

Authorities have reportedly also shot into the crowds, leading the Mozambique Bar Association to warn of potential “bloodbaths” if violence escalates, Al Jazeera added.

The demonstrations have also attracted regional and international attention, with United Nations officials urging authorities to avoid using force, while criticizing the government’s Internet restrictions that were imposed to curb public criticism.

On Thursday, South Africa closed its main border with Mozambique, advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel.