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Portuguese PR Still Hasn’t Confirmed Attendance at Chapo’s Inauguration, But Claims to Have Received an Invitation

Portuguese PR Still Hasn’t Confirmed Attendance at Chapo’s Inauguration, But Claims to Have Received an Invitation

Less than a week before the inauguration of President-elect Daniel Chapo, the Portuguese Mozambican President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, confirmed that he had received a formal invitation from the outgoing President, Filipe Nyusi, to take part in the ceremony scheduled for 15 January in Maputo. However, his presence at the event has not yet been officially confirmed, according to Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM) this Thursday, 9 January.

The uncertainty over the Portuguese head of state’s participation comes at a time of political tension in the country, following an electoral process strongly contested by the opposition. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa himself, in a statement issued on 23 December, acknowledged the post-election challenges and called for dialogue, stressing that he had taken ‘due note of the results’ and encouraged a process of political consultation.

The question of the Portuguese President’s trip to the ceremony is still being analysed. Portugal’s Foreign Minister, Paulo Rangel, said on Tuesday (7) that the possibility of participation ‘is being evaluated’, but so far no final decision has been taken. The delicate political situation in Mozambique, marked by protests and post-election violence, could be one of the factors influencing the presence of international leaders at the event.

Venâncio Mondlane’s return and the climate of instability

In addition to the invitation addressed to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Portuguese Presidency also confirmed that it had received a communication from Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate supported by Podemos, informing it of his return to Mozambique. Mondlane, who was Daniel Chapo’s main opponent in the 9 October presidential elections, left the country on 21 October, citing security concerns, after a wave of protests erupted against the election results.

The return of the politician, who landed this Thursday (9) at Maputo International Airport, comes in a context of growing political tension, with the opposition maintaining its position that the electoral process was marred by irregularities. Mondlane himself led demonstrations in several cities, mobilising citizens against the results validated by the Constitutional Council and the National Electoral Commission (CNE), which placed him second in the presidential race.

The contestation of the results was followed by a wave of protests and clashes with the security forces, which resulted in several fatalities and the destruction of public and private infrastructure. The political crisis has generated concern both inside and outside the country, with diplomats and international organisations calling for an inclusive dialogue in order to preserve political stability and guarantee an environment conducive to the transition of power.

Chapo Assumes the Presidency Against a Backdrop of Contestation

Despite the challenges, Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo candidate, was declared the winner by the Constitutional Council, with 65.17 per cent of the votes. His inauguration, initially scheduled for 2 January, was rescheduled for 15 January, allowing for a period of adjustment in a politically tense environment.

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