Mozambique president-elect urges ‘unity’ amid unrest, citizens fleeing

Daniel Chapo says he will be ‘president of all’, calls for ‘non-violence’ after week of protests against vote-rigging.

Mozambique’s president-elect has called for “non-violence” and “unity” after widespread rioting this week sparked by his governing party’s contested election win.

Daniel Chapo, of the long-governing Frelimo party, said on Friday that he “regretted” the violence, and promised that after his inauguration in mid-January, he would be “the president of all” in the Southern African country, despite opposition claims of widespread vote-rigging.

Chapo’s disputed win in October’s election – which was confirmed by Mozambique’s top court on Monday – prompted a week of unrest, following months of protests.

It has also resulted in thousands of Mozambican citizens fleeing to neighbouring Malawi.

During four days of protests called by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane this week, streets were blocked, and some shops and businesses were looted. Amid the chaos, thousands of inmates also broke free from a prison in Maputo.