Mozambique has faced its second social media restriction within a week, according to NetBlocks, a London-based organization that monitors internet governance and disruptions. The latest restriction coincides with opposition leader Venancio Mondlane of the Podemos party calling for a national strike from October 31 to November 7 in protest of contested presidential election results.
Mondlane, a prominent 50-year-old opposition figure, has been advocating for electoral reforms and transparency. His call for a strike adds to the post-election tensions, which have been marked by accusations of fraud and irregularities.
“Confirmed: Live metrics show restrictions to social media and messaging platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in #Mozambique; the incident follows mobile data disruptions last week and comes as protesters prepare to hit the streets over disputed election results,” NetBlocks announced on its X account on Thursday.
While it was unclear if Mondlane’s call to “paralyze” the country would be widely heeded, Maputo appeared deserted on Thursday, according to Barron reports. Police sent text warnings to residents, including an AFP reporter, on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, advising against any “sabotage” activities. The public prosecutor also issued a statement affirming the right to protest but warning that anyone responsible for “material or personal damage shall be punished.”
Last week, the electoral commission announced that Daniel Chapo, 47, of the ruling FRELIMO party, won the presidential election with 70 percent of the vote, while Mondlane received 20 percent. FRELIMO, which has held power for 49 years, faced immediate protests from opposition supporters, which police suppressed.
Human Rights Watch reported that security forces killed at least 11 people and injured more than 50 others during demonstrations on October 24 and 25. Election observers, including those from the European Union, have raised concerns over significant irregularities before, during, and after the October 9 election, which declared FRELIMO the victor. Both international observers and opposition groups, including Podemos, have disputed the results, citing potential vote tampering and other issues.