More than elections: what’s really driving protests in Mozambique

The research paper asserts that while the 2024 general elections sparked unrest, the primary drivers of protest in Mozambique are declining living standards, high youth unemployment, and systemic corruption under the Frelimo party. It highlights a rise in poverty from 46% to 65% over the last decade and the lasting impact of the $2.2 billion hidden debt scandal. The author notes a shift in public action, with citizens increasingly protesting against private sector entities, such as Kenmare, TotalEnergies, and Desheng Port, over land rights and infrastructure failures. The paper concludes that stability requires a genuine dialogue including opposition figure Venâncio Mondlane, warning that continued instability could disrupt regional trade via Maputo Port.

• The 2024 general elections acted as a catalyst for unrest, but the underlying causes are long-term dissatisfaction with the Frelimo party's governance since 1975 and deteriorating living conditions.
• Mozambique faces severe socioeconomic challenges, particularly for youth; it ranked 177th out of 183 on the 2023 Global Youth Development Index and 183rd out of 193 on the 2024 Human Development Index.
• Economic recovery has been hindered by government corruption, specifically a $2.2 billion hidden debt scandal involving state-owned enterprises between 2013 and 2014, which led to a sovereign default and loss of IMF and World Bank support.
• Public protests have expanded beyond political grievances to target private sector companies over failures in infrastructure and rights violations, including actions against Kenmare in Nampula, TotalEnergies in Cabo Delgado, and Desheng Port in Gaza province.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2025). More than elections: what’s really driving protests in Mozambique. https://saiia.org.za/research/more-than-elections-whats-really-driving-protests-in-mozambique/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. More than elections: what’s really driving protests in Mozambique. 2025. https://saiia.org.za/research/more-than-elections-whats-really-driving-protests-in-mozambique/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=More than elections: what’s really driving protests in Mozambique |date=27 February 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/more-than-elections-whats-really-driving-protests-in-mozambique/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2025more, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{More than elections: what’s really driving protests in Mozambique}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/more-than-elections-whats-really-driving-protests-in-mozambique/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }