Mozambique Top Court Confirms Ruling Party's Victory

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Above: Dancers perform on stage as supporters gather beside a billboard of Daniel Chapo during a campaign rally in Machava on Oct. 6, 2024. Image copyright: MARCO LONGARI/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Mozambique's top court proclaimed Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party president-elect on Monday, confirming that he won the disputed Oct. 9 presidential election with 65% of the vote — less than the 70% previously reported.

  • The Constitutional Council further announced that Frelimo, which has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, secured 171 seats to win a parliamentary majority. Podemos, Renamo, and MDM obtained 79 seats combined.

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The Spin

Narrative A

It's up to Mozambique's Constitutional Council—not to Mondlane and his supporters—to proclaim the winner of the presidential election, so the nation must accept this decision. The opposition is committing a dangerous act of irresponsibility as it pushes the country into chaos to try to overturn legitimate election results.

360 Mozambique

Narrative B

This court ruling has further aggravated the situation, with Mozambique on the brink of a civil war over the Oct. 9 presidential election results. People are fed up with Frelimo, and stability will only be restored if the ever-ruling party accepts that only a national unity government can ease tensions.

The Citizen