More than 2,000 Mozambican families have sought refuge in Malawi this week, Malawian authorities said, as dozens of people were reported killed in spreading unrest over a disputed election in October.
Some businesses including banks were closed in Mozambique’s capital Maputo on Friday and patrols were set up in some areas following a deadly prison riot and breakout on Wednesday.
Mozambique has been gripped by violent protests for about two months since the electoral commission said the ruling Frelimo party had retained power and its candidate won the presidency in the election. Frelimo denies opposition accusations of electoral fraud.
A decision by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council to validate the election results on Monday triggered more demonstrations.
Monitoring group Plataforma Decide put the death toll at 125 since the court’s decision and at 252 since late October.
A senior Malawian official said that as of Wednesday, 2,182 Mozambican households fleeing the violence
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