The protesters were called by Mondlane, no relation to the successful anti-colonialist of the same name, who returned to the country today after several months of voluntary exile, shouted at their supporters from a distance, after threatening to unleash “a popular fury, unparalleled in the history of Africa”.

Mondlane ran in last October’s general election as the presidential candidate of the Podemos coalition and registered less than 22% of the vote, a far cry from the 65% of Daniel Chapo of the Frelimo party, which also won a majority in the National Assembly, according to the National Electoral Commission’s tally.

Before the vote, Mondlane threatened to paralyze the country with a general strike if he did not win, but his call was not heeded; instead, Mozambican President Felipe Nyusi and candidate Chapo urged the population to remain calm and wait for the official results.

During the protests, Mondlane supporters and people recruited from marginal areas staged acts of vandalism and looting in this capital and inland provinces, in particular Cabo Delgado (north), where an Islamist group attacks civilian and military installations.

Weeks ago the South African government offered the Mozambican military and police support to deal with the unrest.

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