EU Reports Electoral Irregularities in Mozambique

Mozambique's recent elections, held on October 9, 2024, have sparked widespread allegations of electoral fraud, violence, and irregularities, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the results. The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) reported significant issues, including unauthorized changes to election results and obstruction of their monitoring efforts, leading to concerns over transparency. Election-related violence has resulted in the deaths of key opposition figures, further escalating tensions within the country. Catholic bishops have condemned the pervasive electoral fraud, stating it has contributed to public disillusionment with the voting process. Amidst these challenges, opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane has called for protests against the provisional results and claimed the killings of his aides were politically motivated. The situation highlights a troubling trend of democratic backsliding in Mozambique, as the ruling FRELIMO party seeks to maintain its long-standing grip on power amidst growing social unrest.