Daniel Chapo, the candidate from Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo, has been declared the winner of the presidential election, securing 70.67% of the votes. This victory extends Frelimo’s nearly 50-year hold on power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Chapo will become Mozambique’s first president born after independence when he takes office in January 2025.

However, the election was marred by allegations of rigging and violence, with opposition parties claiming electoral fraud and manipulation. Venancio Mondlane, the independent candidate who came second with 20.32% of the vote, has called for nationwide protests, alleging systematic rigging in favor of Frelimo. The election period saw significant unrest, including the tragic killings of two opposition figures, which Chapo condemned as “macabre acts.”

Despite the controversy, Chapo addressed his supporters, emphasizing the need for unity and condemning the violence that plagued the election period. He vowed to be “the president for all Mozambicans, united from Rovuma to Maputo.”