Mozambique opposition leader Mondlane to face Supreme Court trial over 2024 election protests

September 8, 2026 at 07:11 AM2 min

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Mozambique opposition politician Venancio Mondlane will stand trial before the Supreme Court on five charges linked to protests following the October 2024 election. The court notified Mondlane on August 25, 2026, and he expects proceedings to begin within two to three months. He is not under arrest and denies the accusations.

Key Facts

Venancio Mondlane was notified by Mozambique's Supreme Court on August 25, 2026, that he would stand trial on five charges linked to post-election protests.
The charges include public advocacy of crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public instigation to a crime, instigation to terrorism, and incitement to terrorism.
Prosecutors brought the charges in July 2025 over Mondlane's alleged role in unrest that followed the October 2024 election, in which more than 300 people were killed, according to Reuters.
Mondlane finished second to Daniel Chapo in the October 2024 presidential election, receiving 24.19 percent of the vote against Chapo's 65.17 percent.
Mondlane left Mozambique in October 2024 and went into self-imposed exile after his lawyer Elvino Dias and Podemos spokesperson Paulo Guambe were shot dead in Maputo on October 19, 2024.

The Charges

Mozambique's Supreme Court notified Venancio Mondlane on August 25, 2026, that he would stand trial on five charges linked to protests following the October 2024 election. The charges are public advocacy of crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public instigation to a crime, instigation to terrorism, and incitement to terrorism. Prosecutors brought the charges in July 2025 over Mondlane's alleged role in the post-election unrest, and he denies the accusations. Mondlane said he expected proceedings to begin within two or three months, although no exact date had been announced.

Election and Unrest

Mondlane was an independent presidential candidate backed by the Podemos party in the October 2024 election. He finished second to Daniel Chapo, the candidate of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), with the Constitutional Council confirming Chapo as the winner with 65.17 percent of the vote. Mondlane received 24.19 percent and rejected the result, saying he had won. The disputed result was followed by months of demonstrations in which more than 300 people were killed, according to Reuters.

Exile and Return

Mondlane left Mozambique in October 2024 and went into self-imposed exile after the disputed election. He said he feared for his life after Elvino Dias, his lawyer and adviser, and Podemos spokesperson Paulo Guambe were shot dead in Maputo on October 19, 2024. Mondlane is not under arrest and has not yet stood trial.