Photos: YouTube Screenshots\Wikimedia Commons
Mozambique is set to hold presidential and legislative elections on Wednesday (Oct. 9).
The ruling Frelimo party, which has governed the southern African country since it secured independence in 1975, is widely expected to retain its grip on power. And its candidate, Daniel Chapo, is the strong favorite to replace outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, who has completed two terms in office.
Independent candidate Venacio Mondlane, a banker whose rallies have attracted large crowds, is widely considered to be the strongest of the three other main candidates.
The candidates have all vowed to address development problems linked to an Islamist insurgency in the gas-rich northern Cabo Delgado province. Islamic State-affiliated rebels have killed thousands and forced 1.3 million people to flee their homes since 2017. Their attacks also prompted the halting of a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project by France’s TotalEnergies.
Chapo last week told Bloomberg he favors holding talks to end the insurgency.
Nearly 17 million voters in the nation of around 30 million people are registered to vote for the next president, as well as 250 members of parliament and provincial assemblies. The electoral commission will announce the results after 15 days before validation by the Constitutional Council.
