Mozambique is gearing up for pivotal elections amidst a backdrop of a jihadist insurgency and severe hunger caused by drought. The citizens of Mozambique will head to the polls this week to elect a new president, with hopes that the elected leader will bring peace to a resource-rich northern province that has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency for almost seven years.
Nearly 17 million voters are expected to participate in the election, casting their votes for the next president as well as 250 members of parliament and provincial assemblies on Wednesday. Incumbent President Filipe Nyusi is not eligible to run for a third term after serving two terms in office.
During the six-week campaign period leading up to the election, which concluded on Sunday, the leading candidates focused on addressing the violence in the northern region of the country. However, none of them have presented a concrete plan to put an end to the insurgency.
Mozambique has been combating an Islamic State-linked group that has carried out attacks in the Cabo Delgado province since 2017, including brutal acts like beheadings and killings. More than 1.3 million people were displaced from their homes, with around 600,000 individuals returning to communities left devastated by the conflict.
Ahead of the election, candidates wrapped up their campaigns in the northern and central provinces, areas considered crucial for securing votes. Promises were made to tackle development challenges worsened by the ongoing insurgency.
One of the presidential contenders, Daniel Chapo of the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), highlighted the importance of peace in rebuilding infrastructure in Cabo Delgado. Frelimo, which has been in power since the country gained independence in 1975, is widely anticipated to secure victory once again.
Another candidate, Venacio Mondlane, pledged to address the violence in the region, proclaiming that his government would eradicate terrorism within a year of taking office. Concerns over corruption and poverty have also featured prominently in the election campaign, as high levels of unemployment and food shortages exacerbated by drought continue to affect the country.
The ruling Frelimo party has faced scrutiny over corruption scandals, including the infamous “tuna bond” scandal, which resulted in politicians being imprisoned for accepting bribes to secure secret loan guarantees for state-controlled fishing companies. As a consequence, Mozambique accumulated $2 billion in hidden debt, triggering a financial crisis that led the International Monetary Fund to suspend financial aid.
A delegation of 52 election observers from the Southern African Development Community has been deployed to oversee the election process. The observers have emphasised the importance of impartiality from Mozambique’s electoral bodies during the polls.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of concerns raised by political analysts and researchers over the challenges awaiting the incoming president, who will be tasked with addressing a range of pressing issues. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of Mozambique as it navigates through a period marked by conflict and uncertainty.