Unrest builds up in Mozambique after electoral fraud

Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo is staying in power following its victory in a national election that triggered growing unrest.

Police on Monday used teargas and gunfire to disperse opposition supporters protesting the murder of a lawyer in the country’s main opposition party.

Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo, 47, will succeed President Filipe Nyusi to become Mozambique’s fifth president since its independence from Portugal in 1975. Nyusi is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.

The EU’s independent observers said elections were marred by “altered” results, hinting at widespread electoral fraud.

“The European Union Election Observation Mission [EU EOM] … has noted irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level,” said a statement from the EU observers.