Amid escalating post-election unrest in Mozambique, outgoing President Felipe Nyusi has ruled out foreign mediation and emphasized dialogue as the way forward, according to a Portuguese news outlet.
During a Monday reception with leaders of parliamentary political parties and the extra-parliamentary New Democracy (ND) party, Nyusi expressed confidence in Mozambique’s ability to resolve its own challenges. “When we handle the issue ourselves, we find solutions free from schemes, arrangements, or hidden interests,” he said.
Nyusi also held individual meetings with key political figures, including Albino Forquilha of Podemos—whose candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, is leading the protests—and Daniel Chapo, president-elect and secretary-general of Frelimo, Mozambique’s ruling party for nearly 50 years. Despite advocating for dialogue, Nyusi’s earlier attempt to convene all presidential candidates for discussions faltered, as Mondlane, currently in hiding and under indictment, refused to participate.
Protests initially broke out on October 21, following violent clashes between government forces and Mondlane’s supporters after the murder of two of his associates who had contested the October 9 election results. The National Electoral Commission declared Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote, granting Frelimo 195 of 250 parliamentary seats. However, the results, announced on October 24, faced widespread criticism from domestic observers and international monitors.
The situation worsened after the election results were ratified on December 23, sparking a surge in violence that claimed at least 175 lives in just one week, according to Plataforma Eleitoral Decide, an NGO monitoring Mozambique’s elections. The unrest has forced thousands to flee to neighboring Malawi and Eswatini and prompted South Africa to close a critical border crossing.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for an immediate end to the hostilities and urged dialogue to resolve the crisis. However, Nyusi remains steadfast in his belief that Mozambique must address its challenges independently, reiterating, “The solutions for Mozambique can only be found by us Mozambicans.”