South Africa closed its border with Mozambique shortly after opening it on Thursday, due to escalating post-election violence in the neighboring country, which resulted in clashes between protesters and the police.
Authorities have also advised South Africans to postpone non-essential visits to Mozambique. Amnesty International said Wednesday that at least 20 people have died and hundreds more have been injured or arrested since protests began in late October.
The border was closed this week and partially opened earlier Thursday to allow limited movement of trucks and vehicles stuck there, but the decision was quickly reversed.
The protests in Mozambique are being organized by opposition leaders and their supporters who are contesting the outcome of the October 9 elections, in which the ruling Frelimo party extended its rule by 49 years. Police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital Maputo.
Videos broadcast on social networks and belonging to the leader of the opposition Venancio Mondlane show dozens of young people marching towards Maputo and barricading the streets with stones and burning tires.
Mondlane, who came second in the presidential election with 20% of the vote, is believed to have fled the country after two of his aides were killed before the results were announced.
South Africa’s border management agency said it closed its side of the border after 15 Mozambican border post workers crossed the border seeking refuge and protection.
“They say the protesters are on their way and they just passed the area where they are processing trucks and some travelers. They looted everything, they took the computers and they looted the trucks, the situation is just bad “said the agency’s commissioner, Mike Masiapato.
South African Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola called for calm and an end to the violence.
“South Africa expresses its concern at the outbreak of incidents of post-election violence and regrets the loss of human lives and destruction of property”said Mr Lamola.
Internet services in Mozambique have been interrupted since last Friday.
The opposition accused the ruling Frelimo of rigging the election in favor of its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, who was declared the winner with more than 70% of the vote by Mozambique’s national electoral commission.
While the commission declares the results, it is up to the Constitutional Council to verify them and deal with any outstanding challenges, including those filed by opposition parties Renamo and Podemos.
Mozambican authorities this week threatened to use the army to quell the protests, accusing demonstrators of wanting to overthrow a democratically elected government. Human rights groups have called the government’s handling of the protests the worst crackdown in years.
Additional sources • AP
