Mozambique's opposition leader says he will return home from exile

Mozambique's opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, who has been calling for protests for weeks from exile, has said he will return to the country on Thursday.

Mondlane said he would arrive ahead of the swearing-in of a new president next week.

Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party is to be sworn in next Wednesday after a court confirmed that he influenced the election.

But Mondlane, in second place, rejected the result, sparking violent protests that have left dozens dead since October.

Mondlane left Mozambique that same month, saying he feared for his life, after two of his supporters were killed.

In a Facebook live address on Sunday, he sent a defiant message to the authorities saying he would be “in Maputo. They don't have to chase me anymore”.

He said he would arrive at 08:05 local time (06:05 GMT) on Thursday at the international airport in Maputo, asking people to welcome him there.

“If they're killing my brothers… I'll be there. You can do what you want. If you want to kill him, kill him. If you want to arrest him, arrest him too. I'll be there,” he said.

Mondlane insists that he won the election and has asked for more protests so that there is “election truth”.

His supporters have often staged violent protests across the country to end the 49-year rule of the Frelimo party.

It has been said before that it would to install himself as president on January 15 – the day of the president's inauguration – despite the court upholding the victory of his rivals.

The Electoral Commission initially announced that Chapo won the election with 71% of the vote, compared to Mondlane's 20%.

The final official results from the constitutional court two weeks ago gave Chapo 65% and Mondlane 24%.

International election observers have previously said the vote was flawed, pointing to doctored numbers and other irregularities during the counting process.

Security forces have tried to quell nationwide protests in a violent crackdown that has tested the country's stability.

More than 270 people were killed, including protesters, children and members of the security forces, according to rights groups.

The unrest has also affected the economy, with more than 12,000 people losing their jobs and more than 500 companies damaged.

The political unrest has also affected neighboring countries, with thousands of Mozambicans fleeing across the border.

Outgoing President Filipe Nyusi has called in the past for dialogue to resolve the dispute. On December 27, Chapo called for “non-violence” and “unity”.