MAPUTO, Jan 15 – Daniel Chapo was officially sworn in as the fifth President of Mozambique in a high-security ceremony in Maputo’s Independence Square. The event took place at 11:12 AM local time, with Chapo taking the oath of office after receiving the symbols of power from outgoing President Filipe Nyusi.
The inauguration was attended by notable figures, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, along with senior officials from Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Eswatini, Rwanda, and Portugal. Around 2,500 guests were present for the event.
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Chapo’s presidency follows the contentious results of the October 9 elections, where he secured 65.17% of the vote, but opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane has contested the results, claiming victory despite official figures showing he earned only 24%. Mondlane’s supporters have led protests that have resulted in clashes with police, leaving at least 300 people dead and more than 600 injured.
Chapo, 48, was nominated by the ruling Frelimo party in May 2024 and served as governor of Inhambane before his candidacy. His inauguration marks a significant moment in Mozambique’s political history, as he becomes the country’s first president born after independence in 1975.
The ceremony included official speeches, cultural performances, a 21-gun salute, and a military parade.
