South Africa reopened its border with Mozambique today after closing it on Wednesday due to the escalation of post-election protests in the neighboring country, South African authorities announced.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) closed the Lebombo border entry point (north) after receiving "reports of vehicles on fire on the Mozambican side" of the border.
The border crossing was reopened on Friday to people and today to cargo, the BMA said.
"We are pleased to announce that Mozambican systems have been restored and processing activities have resumed at the checkpoint at kilometer four on the Mozambican side," said BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato.
The authority advised travellers to "exercise caution and stay informed about the evolving situation when planning travel to Mozambique".
The closure was decreed following post-election demonstrations called by the opposition to protest alleged fraud in the general elections of October 9.
Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who has been promoting the protests after running as an independent in the elections but with the support of the Popular Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), has called for the population's "civic and constitutional right to demonstrate".
The number of deaths due to police repression of the protests that have taken place since October 21 has risen to 34, according to the latest figures published by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD).
Since then, Mondlane has called for days of general strike and mobilizations against alleged irregularities in the elections and the murder, on October 18, of a lawyer and leader of Podemos.
The announcement by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Mozambique on 24 October of the election results, in which it attributed victory to Daniel Chapo, supported by Frelimo, the party in power since 1975, in the election for President of the Republic, with 70.67% of the votes, sparked popular protests, called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.
According to the CNE, Mondlane came in second place, with 20.32%, but he stated that he did not recognize the results, which still have to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.
Although the election day of 9 October passed calmly, the European Union observation mission confirmed "irregularities" in the vote count, while the president of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM), Dom Inácio Saure, denounced "serious fraud" in the vote.
