Mozambique: Post-election crisis forces thousands to flee into Malawi, Eswatini

As violence and unrest continue to grip Mozambique following the disputed presidential election, the influx of Mozambican refugees into neighboring Malawi and Eswatini continues to rise.

For nearly two months, Mozambicans have been demonstrating against the disputed 9 October election results, which saw the Frelimo party extend its five-decade rule in the Southern African state. Violent unrest has reportedly claimed hundreds of lives, and also led to an escape of over 1,500 inmates from a high-security jail, adding to the already tense atmosphere in the country. Businesses were shut down in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, on Friday (3 January), and security patrols were on alert amid fears of outbreaks of further violent protests by the opposition.

Meanwhile, the aftermath of disputed presidential election has driven an estimated 3,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring countries, most notably Malawi and Eswatini. Malawi has seen a surge in refugees, with nearly 2,000 Mozambicans arriving in just one week, according to the reports from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Many fled after their villages were attacked and their homes looted, risking their lives to cross the Shire River by swimming or using makeshift boats.

Eswatini’s authorities have reported nearly 1,000 Mozambicans who crossed the border into the kingdom over the past two months. One refugee facility near the border is now overwhelmed, struggling to accommodate the influx, according to the UNHCR. Tanzanian authorities have said there is no record of Mozambicans having crossed into the country.