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At least a dozen people were injured on Wednesday when Mozambican police violently dispersed a protest led by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, according to his team and a civil society group. Mondlane, who was the runner-up in last year’s contested presidential election, had been leading a procession in the capital, Maputo, when security forces opened fire.
Eyewitnesses and Mondlane’s aides reported that police fired live rounds at his convoy and at anti-government protesters marching alongside him. Neither the police nor the authorities have commented on the incident.
The demonstration took place just hours before President Daniel Chapo was set to sign an agreement with several political parties to resolve months of post-election unrest. However, Mondlane, who has been calling for nationwide protests, was excluded from the negotiations leading to the deal.
A statement from Mondlane’s office described the confrontation, saying:
“A contingent of the UIR [a rapid intervention police unit] rammed into Venâncio Mondlane’s convoy and began a barrage of gunfire, using live ammunition and tear gas.”
Interior Minister Paulo Chachine later defended the police response, saying their mission was to prevent any attempt to disrupt the signing ceremony. He denied claims that there had been an attempt to assassinate Mondlane.
Local civil society group Plataforma Decide reported that 16 people were injured in the crackdown. Mondlane’s team also claimed that two children from a nearby school died due to the gunfire. Their statement added that their camera operator was among those injured and that the opposition leader’s condition remained unknown, causing concern among his supporters.
A widely circulated video on social media captured the moment when gunfire erupted as Mondlane’s procession neared an armored police vehicle. In the footage, protesters are seen fleeing in panic as shots continue to ring out. Other images show bloodied individuals, allegedly victims of the shooting.
One protester, 27-year-old Silvestre Alexandre, described the scene as an “ambush.”
“It was just a march,” he said. “I saw some people bleeding from their wounds. My friend was wounded in the leg. I also saw a child who was shot and lost his life in hospital.”
Mozambique’s former colonial ruler, Portugal, has condemned “the unacceptable attack on Venâncio Mondlane’s convoy” and called for “restraint from violence and respect for fundamental rights.” In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Portugal’s foreign affairs ministry also extended condolences to the bereaved families.
President Chapo, who took office in January, has promised inclusive political dialogue to address the country’s electoral crisis. However, critics argue that by excluding Mondlane from negotiations, the government risks prolonging tensions.
Mondlane, rejecting the agreement signed on Wednesday, dismissed it as “an agreement of people without the people.” He vowed to continue leading protests against what he calls an illegitimate government.
“If they don’t do what the people want, they won’t govern Mozambique,” he declared.
Since October, nearly 400 people have died in violence linked to the protests, according to civil society organizations.
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