The spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo, confirmed that there are no Rwandan troops in Maputo, despite circulating rumors amidst ongoing post-election protests. These forces are stationed solely in Cabo Delgado to counter Islamist extremists. The unrest follows the announcement of election results favoring the ruling Frelimo party, leading to calls for further demonstrations by opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, amid significant civil unrest resulting in casualties and arrests.
On Sunday, the spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo, firmly denied claims regarding the presence of Rwandan troops in Mozambique’s capital city of Maputo. In her statement, shared via her official account on the social platform X, she emphasized that Rwandan security forces are exclusively stationed in Cabo Delgado province. They are engaged in joint operations with Mozambican forces to combat extremist Islamist groups that have been causing unrest in that region. “There are no Rwandan troops in Maputo,” Makolo stated, addressing the misinformation surrounding troop mobilizations purportedly associated with ongoing post-election demonstrations in the capital. The unrest in Maputo follows protests against the election results announced on October 24 by the National Elections Commission (CNE), which declared Daniel Chapo of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) the winner with 70.67% of the votes. In contrast, his main rival, Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Extra-parliamentary Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), received 20.32% of the votes but rejected the results, asserting that they must still be validated by the Constitutional Council. Mondlane has called for a general strike and demonstrations beginning October 31, which he refers to as the third phase of protests surrounding the electoral outcomes. The recent protests resulted in significant civil unrest, leading to confrontations with police forces, which have reportedly utilized tear gas to control demonstrators. These incidents have resulted in at least 10 fatalities, numerous injuries, and around 500 arrests, as documented by the Center for Public Integrity, a non-governmental organization that oversees electoral processes in the region. After several days marked by turmoil, Maputo experienced its initial day of relative calm on Sunday, with local markets operating at unusual levels of demand for a typical Sunday, thus reflecting a temporary return to normalcy amidst the ongoing tensions.
The situation in Mozambique has been tense following the general elections held on October 9, where widespread protests erupted in response to the results announced by the National Elections Commission. The election results, which favored the ruling party, prompted significant civil unrest as opposition leaders questioned the validity of the outcomes. The ongoing strife has raised concerns about the involvement of foreign military forces, particularly following the Rwandan military’s presence in Cabo Delgado province to combat Islamist militants. This context highlights the precarious political climate in Mozambique, alongside issues of local governance, public safety, and regional stability.
In conclusion, the denial of Rwandan troop presence in Maputo by Yolande Makolo underscores the government’s efforts to quash fears of foreign military involvement amid domestic unrest. With demonstrations continuing against disputed election results, the situation remains volatile as Venâncio Mondlane mobilizes supporters for a series of protests. The response from authorities, including reliance on policing methods to handle dissent, signifies an urgent need for dialogue and resolution in addressing the grievances of the opposition and maintaining public order in Mozambique.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
