At least 56 people have died and 152 have been shot following protests against the results of the general elections that gave victory to the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo.

The figures were released by the electoral platform Decide - which monitors electoral processes in Mozambique - during two days of protests, a balance that contradicts the figures released by Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda, who spoke of 21 deaths.

"A total of 236 acts of serious violence were recorded throughout the country, resulting in 21 deaths, including two police officers, 25 injuries, 13 civilians and 12 police officers," he said.

The interior minister guarantees that all those involved in the acts of vandalization - public and private infrastructure and looting of commercial establishments - will be held accountable.

"A rigorous investigation has been launched to identify not only the material perpetrators, but also the moral perpetrators who organize violent acts," explained Pascoal Ronda.

At a press conference, the interior minister linked the current wave of protests to terrorism in Cabo Delgado. Quoted by RFIPascoal Ronda says that police stations are being raided by individuals who steal firearms and release prisoners, some of whom are registered.

"The 'modus operandi' of these actions suggests that we may be dealing with selective attacks carried out by a terrorist group associated with the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Faced with this situation, the FDS will intervene, because they cannot watch innocently and forever as this movement grows, which tends to be characterized as full-blown urban terrorism," said Pascoal Ronda.

According to the electoral platform Decide, at least 56 people have died and 152 have been injured by firearms in Mozambique since Monday, following the contestation of the results of the Mozambican general elections.

(Photo DR)