The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Friday called on all parties involved in Mozambique’s post-election crisis to exercise restraint and refrain from any actions that could escalate violence and unrest.
"We call for an immediate end to all hostilities and reiterate the importance of prioritizing the well-being and livelihoods of the Mozambican people,” said Samia Suluhu Hassan, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security Cooperation and President of Tanzania.
Based in Gaborone, SADC urged the parties to prioritize peaceful and constructive dialogue as the only viable path to resolving disputes. "We share a common aspiration to restore harmony and stability in Mozambique, as envisioned in our collective principles of good governance, social cohesion, and sustainable development for the entire southern African region,” emphasized Ms. Suluhu Hassan in a statement.
She also expressed readiness to provide assistance through appropriate mechanisms to facilitate the peaceful resolution of the issues currently destabilizing Mozambique.
"We are deeply concerned about the increasing loss of life, the number of injuries, and the destruction of private property and public infrastructure,” she said, noting that the post-election political situation has been marked by protests and acts of violence resulting in significant casualties.
The current crisis in Mozambique has also had a substantial impact on the national economy, disrupted cross-border trade, and hindered the free movement of people, according to reports.
Mozambique has been plunged into chaos and destruction due to clashes and post-election violence following the Constitutional Council's announcement of the contested results of the October 9 general elections. These results declared the victory of the ruling party of the past half-century, the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo).
Post-election protests were sparked by opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejected the election results, accusing Frelimo and the Electoral Commission of "fraud."
Speaking from exile, Mondlane warned citizens to prepare for "difficult days ahead.”
More than 300 people have reportedly been killed by the police during the unrest, according to NGOs.
The Southern African Development Community is an organization aimed at promoting economic development in southern Africa. It comprises 16 member states: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), eSwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.