The Angolan airline TAAG announced that it had canceled the two flights it had planned to operate this Tuesday between Luanda and Maputo due to the post-election insecurity in Mozambique.
“TAAG – Linhas Aéreas de Angola informs that, due to the most recent events, and in order to guarantee the safety of our passengers and crew, flights DT581 and DT582, between Luanda and Maputo, scheduled for December 24th, have been cancelled” , reads a post on the Angolan airline’s Instagram.
“We regret any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding of this decision, taken with the aim of ensuring maximum safety for everyone involved. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates whenever necessary”, concludes TAAG.
The Angolan airline does not provide further details, and the number of passengers affected is unknown and when it will resume flights to the Mozambican capital.
At issue is the post-election violence triggered by the non-acceptance of the results of the presidential and legislative elections on October 9th by candidate Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos, extra-parliamentary).
On Monday afternoon, the Constitutional Council of Mozambique proclaimed Daniel Chapo, a candidate supported by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, in power), as the winner of the election for President of the Republic, with 65.17% of the votes, succeeding him in the position to Filipe Nyusi, as well as the victory of Frelimo, which maintained its parliamentary majority.
The announcement caused chaos across the country, with protesters in the streets, barricades, looting and clashes with the police, who have been firing shots in an attempt to demobilize.
So far, according to provisional data, more than 130 people have died.
In the capital, Maputo, today we are experiencing a new day of chaos, with avenues blocked by protesters, burning tires and all types of barricades, in protest at the announcement of the results, which involve looting and destruction of several private and public establishments, including banks.
In addition to Venâncio Mondlane, Ossufo Momade, leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo, until now the largest opposition party) and Lutero Simango, president of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM, third parliamentary force), both presidential candidates, announced that they do not recognize the election results.
Source: www.cmjornal.pt
