President Cyril Ramaphosa was in Maputo today for the controversial swearing-in of Daniel Chapo as the fifth president of the Republic of Mozambique.

Chapo’s inauguration follows months of bloody protest action called for on October 16 by Venâncio Mondlane, the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique’s (Podemos) presidential candidate, who refused to accept the results of the country’s presidential elections held on October 9.

According to the Club of Mozambique, around 300 people have died and more than 600 gunshot wounds have been sustained since protests began. The report attributes these figures to ‘organisations on the ground’.

With the threat of ongoing protest action, Chapo’s inauguration was characterised by tight security measures.

Dialogue

Last week, Mondlane returned to Mozambique from self-imposed exile.

Zitamar News reported yesterday that he met with the leaders of the opposition parties represented in Mozambique’s national parliament on Monday.

According to Zitamar sources, the talks centred on proposals regarding political and constitutional reforms. “Issues related to electoral fraud and the situations related to current unrest were discussed too.”

Yesterday, according to the report, the ‘leaders of the four opposition parties involved in the political dialogue – including Renamo leader Ossufo Momade – met the ambassadors of the US and the European Union, as well as the UK High Commissioner’. The meeting was to brief them on events in Mozambique.

“Zitamar has learnt that the opposition parties have also scheduled an audience with a group of ambassadors representing the SADC countries.”

Last Thursday, Chapo, who is the spokesperson for the political dialogue, said that Mondlane was welcome to join the dialogue group.

Inauguration ceremony

Two of the country’s main opposition parties – Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement – boycotted today’s ceremony because, as Renamo spokesperson Marcial Macome was quoted in a Club of Mozambique article on Monday, the election results do not ‘reflect the will of the people’.

According to the Club of Mozambique, the ceremony happened at Independence Square in the heart of Maputo, with around 2 500 guests in attendance.

It reported that Ramaphosa and the president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, were the only heads of state present.

Three vice presidents – from Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya; the prime ministers of Eswatini and Rwanda; and eight ministers, including the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Paulo Rangel, were also in attendance.

In a statement issued today, the South African Presidency said: “President Ramaphosa is looking forward to working closely with President-Elect Chapo in further strengthening the existing strong fraternal relations between the two countries and looks forward to seeing Mozambicans come together in the spirit of unity and co-operation as they build a brighter future.”

Watch: Ramaphosa arrives in Maputo

President @CyrilRamaphosa arrives in Maputo to attend the inauguration of the President-Elect of Moçambique, His Excellency Daniel Chapo, following the Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections which were held on 9 October 2024. #GovZAUpdates https://t.co/ZnVmNA7CQ6 pic.twitter.com/PmLGPgR1ar

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) January 15, 2025

Sky News reported earlier today that live bullets were fired over the protesters’ heads – down the road from the visiting dignitaries. It reported that the police were acting against the orders of the police commander, who was heard asking: “Why are you firing?”

Watch the Sky News video: