Yolande Makolo, spokesperson for the Rwandan government, denied the presence of Rwandan troops in Maputo amid ongoing protests following Mozambique’s recent elections. Over 2,000 Rwandan soldiers are currently engaged in operations in Cabo Delgado province against terrorist groups. Meanwhile, political unrest continues, with opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane planning more demonstrations to contest the election results.
On Sunday, Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, firmly denied reports claiming the presence of Rwandan troops in Maputo amidst the ongoing post-election demonstrations. In her statement via social media platform X, she asserted, “There are no Rwandan troops in Maputo. Rwandan Security Forces are deployed strictly in Cabo Delgado province, in joint operations with Mozambican forces against extremist Islamist fighters that have been terrorizing residents in the province.” Makolo dismissed the circulating rumors concerning the mobilization of Rwandan forces and armored vehicles as “a lie.” In Cabo Delgado province, over 2,000 Rwandan soldiers, deployed since April, have been engaged in combat against terrorist groups, particularly protecting the area where French company TotalEnergies is involved in a major natural gas exploration project, stemming from a bilateral agreement between Rwanda and Mozambique. Following a turbulent period including riots and protests over the election results, Maputo recorded its first day without unrest. This followed a series of demonstrations led primarily by supporters of presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, which had resulted in confrontations with the police involving the use of tear gas. Markets in the suburbs experienced heightened activity, contrasting sharply with the preceding days of chaos marked by burning barricades and violent protests. Looking ahead, Mr. Mondlane has called for a general strike and additional demonstrations, beginning on October 31, leading to marches in Maputo on November 7. This represents a continuation of his efforts to challenge the election results announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) on October 24. Despite winning 70.67% of the votes, the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) candidate Daniel Chapo’s victory is being contested by Mr. Mondlane, who secured 20.32% and is seeking a validation of the election results by the Constitutional Council. Recent protests have tragically resulted in the loss of lives, injuries, and numerous arrests, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in Mozambique.
In Mozambique, post-election tensions flared following the general elections held on October 9, wherein Venâncio Mondlane, a presidential candidate, contested the legitimacy of the results that favored the incumbent party, Frelimo. Following the outcome announcement by the CNE, there have been several days of significant protests accompanied by violent confrontations between demonstrators and security forces. Concurrently, the media reported misplaced concerns regarding Rwandan military involvement in Maputo, prompting officials from Rwanda’s government to clarify the situation, situating their forces strictly within Cabo Delgado province.
The ongoing unrest in Mozambique underscores significant socio-political challenges following recent elections, with opposition leaders calling for sustained protests against what they perceive as manipulated election results. Rwandan officials have sought to quell rumors of military presence in the capital, focusing instead on their active engagement against terrorism in Cabo Delgado province. As tensions persist, the situation remains precarious and will continue to unfold as further protests are expected in the coming weeks.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
