ActionSA will write to President Ramaphosa and the Minister of International Relations to express alarm about the escalating election violence in Mozambique, especially as both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the South African government remain mute.
The pending announcement of the election results has already sparked serious concerns about electoral integrity and the potential for further violence, while ongoing reports indicate widespread election fraud and political violence, including the tragic killing of opposition lawyer, Elvino Dias, who was gunned down by Mozambican security forces while preparing to submit a case to the Constitutional Court contesting the irregularities in the elections.
ActionSA believes that the South African government’s negligent silence on this crisis reflects a deeply concerning lack of appreciation for the urgency of the situation, which carries serious implications for the region and directly affects South Africa.
Importantly, the President and Minister Lamola would do well to remember the inaction during the 2008 Zimbabwean elections chaos, which, under the guise of “quiet diplomacy,” led to a massive immigration crisis with devastating consequences for both the region and South Africa, where we witnessed an unprecedented influx of Zimbabwean immigrants.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown an appetite to engage with issues across the globe, he remains silent while his own backyard is on fire, revealing a misaligned prioritisation of domestic issues that have direct consequences for South Africa.
ActionSA is increasingly concerned that as the election results are expected to be announced imminently, reports indicate that increased violence can be anticipated. Consequently, regional intervention on the part of SADC, with the South African government as a leading voice on the continent, is urgently needed.
Escalating Election Violence in Mozambique Threatens Regional Stability and Could Trigger a Surge in Immigration into South Africa
ActionSA will write to President Ramaphosa and the Minister of International Relations to express alarm about the escalating election violence in Mozambique, especially as both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the South African government remain mute.
The pending announcement of the election results has already sparked serious concerns about electoral integrity and the potential for further violence, while ongoing reports indicate widespread election fraud and political violence, including the tragic killing of opposition lawyer, Elvino Dias, who was gunned down by Mozambican security forces while preparing to submit a case to the Constitutional Court contesting the irregularities in the elections.
ActionSA believes that the South African government’s negligent silence on this crisis reflects a deeply concerning lack of appreciation for the urgency of the situation, which carries serious implications for the region and directly affects South Africa.
Importantly, the President and Minister Lamola would do well to remember the inaction during the 2008 Zimbabwean elections chaos, which, under the guise of “quiet diplomacy,” led to a massive immigration crisis with devastating consequences for both the region and South Africa, where we witnessed an unprecedented influx of Zimbabwean immigrants.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown an appetite to engage with issues across the globe, he remains silent while his own backyard is on fire, revealing a misaligned prioritisation of domestic issues that have direct consequences for South Africa.
ActionSA is increasingly concerned that as the election results are expected to be announced imminently, reports indicate that increased violence can be anticipated. Consequently, regional intervention on the part of SADC, with the South African government as a leading voice on the continent, is urgently needed.