Mozambique swears in contested leader Chapo amid heavy security
Mozambique's new president, Daniel Chapo, took office Wednesday in a heavily guarded ceremony in the capital Maputo – extending his party's five-decade grip on power amid fierce opposition claims of electoral fraud and threats of continued protests.
Independence Square was under lockdown for the inauguration, with security forces blocking roads and patrolling the area to prevent violence.
As he took the oath of office, Chapo pledged to “defend, promote and consolidate national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people”.
But his presidency starts under a cloud of tension and mistrust.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who claims the 9 October election was rigged in Chapo’s favour, has vowed to paralyse the government with daily demonstrations.
“We’ll protest every single day. If it means paralysing the country for the entire term, we will paralyse it for the entire term,” Mondlane said in a post on Facebook.
The unrest has already claimed more than 300 lives according to civil society group Plataforma Decide, with security forces accused of using excessive force against protesters.
Mozambique opposition leader calls for national strike, demos
Unknown 'puppet'
In Maputo, Mondlane supporters are vocal in their rejection of the new president.
His words reflect widespread uncertainty about a leader who, until recently, was virtually unknown to most Mozambicans.
Read more on RFI English
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