Mozambican Political Rivals Meet in Move to end Months-Long Post-Election Clashes

After five months of countrywide protests, destruction, and killings, the two warring parties in Mozambique have finally met. Recently inaugurated president Daniel Chapo met with opposition leader and 2024 elections runners-up Venâncio Mondlane in Maputo.

The meeting, said to have happened on Sunday evening, opens a new chapter of dialogue in pursuit of reconciliation between the two major political factions—Daniel Chapo’s FRELIMO and Mondlane’s RENAMO.

While confirming the meeting on social media, Mondlane said that soon a live session will be held “to announce the motives behind this session and outline the next steps.” 

The talks embark, leaving behind in their wake hundreds of deaths reportedly executed by the national police in an attempt to control hundreds of protesters who disputed the election results. Human rights organizations claim that over 350 civilians have been shot dead since October last year with hundreds more sustaining life-threatening injuries during the violent clashes with the police.

Daniel Chapo earlier this month signed a post-election deal with parties in the opposition. However, RENAMO’s Mondlane boycotted the talks, choosing to keep up the protests instead. 

Mondlane and his followers dispute the premise that Chapo won the elections, allaying fears of election manipulation by the independence party FRELIMO. Chapo’s win was also confirmed by the electoral council, but that too failed to convince Mondlane.

Prior to Sunday’s talks, Mondlane had set up a “parallel government” and instructed his followers to boycott FRELIMO’s directives and not to pay taxes.