Mocambique Opposition Leader Faces Terrorism Charges

Mozambique Opposition Leader Faces Terrorism Charge Mozambique Mozambique’s Attorney-General’s Office this week charged the country’s top opposition leader with terrorism, following unrest set off by last year’s disputed elections that left hundreds dead, Agence de Presse Africaine reported. Venâncio Mondlane, a fierce critic of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) party, was also charged with “incitement to disobedience,” and “public instigation to crime.” He denied all charges and said they are politically motivated. He added he is being targeted for revealing what he described as “massive electoral fraud” in the October presidential election, won by President Daniel Chapo, Africanews added. Western observers have complained that the election was neither free nor fair. Mondlane ran in the election as an independent candidate and, after his loss, led months of unprecedented protests over the results, which extended the ruling party’s five decades in power. The demonstrations spread across the country and were met with a violent government crackdown that left at least 400 people dead and 600 injured. More than 30 police officers are on trial for their role in suppressing the protests. Mondlane is widely popular, especially with younger voters. Mondlane also accused the Chapo administration of breaking the peace deal they signed in March, which had raised hopes of easing the post-election crisis, paving the way for new reforms, and obtaining justice for the victims of the violence.