Political instability in Mozambique is causing thousands of people to leave the country, arriving in neighboring countries such as Malawi and Eswatini in recent weeks.

According to Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights, many of these people cross Mozambican borders because of political persecution, but also because of the famine that has become widespread in the country.

The UN said it was "deeply concerned" about the post-election violence in Mozambique since the October general elections and denounced the flight of Mozambicans, around 3,000 so far, to Malawi and Eswatini. This is a reality also noted by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights as Adriano Nuvunga.

"A lot of people are leaving. We reported two weeks ago that 1,500 people had left Mozambique, particularly the province of Zambézia, especially the districts bordering Malawi. They cross the border into Malawi in search of security, but also in search of food. Because in this context, not only is their life at risk because of police repression, but there's also no possibility of producing food," Nuvunga said in an interview with the Mozambican press. RFI.

Until January 15, when Daniel Chapo officially takes office, tension will continue to rise in the country. Adriano Nuvunga describes a climate of fear in Maputo, where there are currently no demonstrations, but where the authorities have decided to step up their military presence, including with armored vehicles in front of administrative buildings.

"It's a day that scares people. We've never seen a situation where the political crisis and post-election violence has reached this level of threatening the very investiture of the person who was nominated as the winner, even if unfairly. And we see the state importing more weapons. It's a war scenario, with very heavy weaponry such as armored vehicles protecting, for example, the Presidency of the Republic," said the source.

For Nuvunga, the current scenario in Mozambique "is characteristic of authoritarian states that are afraid of their population". "So this fear is widespread, it gets worse as we get closer to the date because we don't know what's going to happen," said the activist.

(Photo DR)