Daniel Chapo was elected new President of Mozambique after defeating the opposition coalition candidate.

In reaction to post-election protests, Mozambique has shut down the internet and restricted access to social media platforms for the second time in as many weeks.

Violence erupted in the Southern African country after the opposition accused the electoral authority of rigging the results in favour of the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO), which has been in power since 1975.

Daniel Chapo, the FRELIMO party's candidate, was elected President of Mozambique ahead of the opposition coalition candidate.

Initially, mobile internet service was stopped on October 25, a day after the election results were released.

While internet connectivity was restored on October 26, officials blocked access to digital platforms again on Thursday of this week.

This coincided with the start of week-long protests called by the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique, whose preferred candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, came second to the ruling party's Chapo in the official results.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters, as skirmishes were reported in the capital, Maputo.

Netblocks, an internet rights think tank, said on Thursday that live analytics showed limits on social media and messaging apps Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in Mozambique.

“The incident follows mobile data disruptions last week and comes as protesters prepare to hit the streets over disputed election results,” it stated.

Access Now also condemned the actions of authorities in Mozambique.

“We cannot allow authorities and internet service providers to normalize shutdowns to silence dissent, and shroud human rights abuses without facing any consequences,” said Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager at Access Now.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights' resolution 580 of 2024 calls on state parties to refrain from shutting down the internet before, during and after elections.