The citizens of Mozambique vote on a new president, a new parliament and new provincial parliaments. These are the first elections since the governing party Frelimo and the former rebel group and today's opposition party Renamo signed a final peace agreement in August. That's why the elections are considered extremely important for peace in the country.
The two parties faced each other for fifteen years in a bloody civil war that ended in 1992; In the past few years, the violence flared up again.
Head of State Filipe Nyusi of Frelimo, who has been in power since Mozambique's independence from Portugal in 1975, is applying for a second term. His challengers are Ossufo Momade of the Renamo and Daviz Simango of the MDM and Mario Albino of the AMUSI. Around 12.9 million of the nearly 30 million citizens are registered as voters.
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Fear of violence is great
Experts see the elections as a kind of test of how robust peace in the country is. "If they go well, this will be a decisive step towards a lasting peace," said the Federal Government Commissioner for Africa, Günter Nooke (CDU).
The fear of violence is great. During the election campaign, human rights activists have repeatedly experienced harassment and violence against journalists, activists and other members of civil society. Last week, an election observer was shot, presumably policemen were indeed involved.
In addition to the political tensions, two hurricanes devastated the country in recent months. The cyclone "Idai" swept over Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, followed by the cyclone "Kenneth" in May. In addition, it is in the gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado repeatedly attacks by alleged Islamists.
