More than 250 people have lost their lives
in the southern African nation of Mozambique as protesters disputing the results of the presidential election have clashed with the police and military, NYT reports.
Discontent started long before voters went to the polls in October. For years, the Frelimo party, which has governed Mozambique since 1975, has faced allegations of election rigging. In this year’s vote, Frelimo’s candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner, with 65 percent of ballots cast, according to the final tally. The nation’s top court on Dec. 23 upheld his victory.
But the top opposition candidate has declared himself the actual winner and has called on Mozambicans to shut down the country. Tires have burned in the streets; buildings have been looted and vandalized; angry mobs have erected informal pay-to-pass roadblocks; and hundreds of prisoners have broken free.
