Mozambique's Opposition Leader Venancio Mondlane to Return from Exile

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Venancio Mondlane, who has led more than two months of protests against Mozambique's disputed election results, announced that he would return to the country on Thursday.

According to AFP, the opposition leader from Mozambique, who has led more than two months of deadly protests against disputed election results from outside the country, announced on Sunday that he would return ahead of the inauguration of the new president.

Venancio Mondlane, who left Mozambique after his lawyer was gunned down on October 19, stated in a Facebook Live address that he would arrive at Maputo’s Mavalane airport on Thursday.

From his self-imposed exile in an undisclosed location, Mondlane has been leading demonstrations against the October 9 election results. The protests have resulted in approximately 300 deaths, according to a tally by a local rights group.

The official results, verified by the Constitutional Council, show Mondlane received 24% of the presidential vote, while Daniel Chapo, the presidential candidate for the ruling FRELIMO party, received 65%.

Chapo, 47, is scheduled to be sworn in on January 15, succeeding President Filipe Nyusi, whose two-term limit is expiring.

Mondlane continues to assert that the election was stolen from him, claiming an alternative count showed him as the winner. Several international observer missions have also pointed out irregularities in the electoral process.

“If they are killing my brothers, they are murdering my brothers, then I will be there,” Mondlane declared.

“Thursday at 8 a.m. — if it’s for me, if it’s because of Venancio, then Venancio will be there, at Mavalane International Airport,” he said.

FRELIMO has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975.