Mozambique tense ahead of ruling on controversial election

The atmosphere is tense in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, as the country awaits a court ruling on the outcome of October's presidential election, which sparked weeks of deadly protests when it was first announced.

Venâncio Mondlane, who came second according to the official count, has been calling on his supporters for much of the past two months to demonstrate against what he described as a tight vote.

Mondlane, himself, is a fugitive after fleeing the country accusing police of threatening behavior soon after two of his companions were killed in October.

In a weekend social media message, he said there could be a “new popular uprising” if the result was not reversed.

The usual hustle and bustle that characterizes the greater Maputo region on weekdays and during the Christmas season has been replaced by silence and empty roads – a sight that has been common in the region since the popular shows began. on October 21.

In what appears to be preparation for the latest phase of protests, some demonstrators have already begun blocking roads and blocking vehicular traffic in Maputo.

The Constitutional Court is expected to start announcing its decision at 15:00 (13:00 GMT).

Earlier this month, Mondlane told the BBC there was “no way” he could accept the election result, in which Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo won with 71% of the vote.

The 50-year-old evangelical minister Mondlane, who stood as an independent, got 20%.

The Electoral Commission denied Mondlane's accusation that the poll was done in favor of Frelimo, which has been in power since independence 49 years ago.

But international election observers have said the elections were flawed, pointing to doctored numbers and other irregularities during the counting process.

The week-long demonstrations have led to violent clashes with police and at least 110 people have been killed, local monitoring group Plataforma Decide said.

It is alleged that many of those who died were killed by security forces, but police chief Bernadino Rafael had previously told the BBC that his officers were defending themselves after coming under attack.

In a Sunday message to the largely Catholic nation, Pope Francis called for dialogue and the pursuit of a common good.

Mondlane has been talking to the outgoing President, Filipe Nyusi, but it is not clear what came of the talks.