VENÂNCIO MONDLANE SPEAKS OUT IN OSLO: The Man Many Say Won Mozambique’s 2024 Election Takes the Global Stage
MAPUTO (ClearAgenda) | May 26–28, 2025 — In a powerful move that could reshape international perceptions of Mozambique’s democratic crisis, opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane is attending the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) this week — the world’s premier summit on liberty and human rights.
Mondlane, widely regarded by his supporters as the legitimate winner of Mozambique’s 2024 presidential election, is the first Mozambican ever invited to speak at this prestigious event, which has been held annually since 2009 by the Human Rights Foundation in Norway.
His keynote is scheduled for May 27, where he is expected to expose the political repression, electoral fraud, and post-election violence that erupted in the wake of Mozambique’s most contested democratic process since independence.
“He represents not just a political movement, but a generation demanding real change,” one European diplomat told ClearAgenda.us.
A Contested Election, A Violent Aftermath
Official results from Mozambique’s electoral commission declared FRELIMO’s Daniel Chapo as the winner, but Mondlane and a growing number of international observers allege that the election was stolen through systemic fraud, suppression of opposition votes, and even foreign manipulation.
Following the announcement, mass protests swept across the country, in what has now been recorded as the largest post-election uprising in Mozambique’s democratic era. Security forces responded with lethal force:
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Over 500 protesters were killed,
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Thousands were injured,
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Most victims were unarmed civilians shot during confrontations with police.
Despite state violence, Mondlane has continued to rally support both domestically and abroad. His appearance at the OFF signals a shift from local resistance to international advocacy, as he unveils his next political chapter — the ANAMALA Movement — which he describes as a new platform to restore power to the people.
The Oslo Freedom Forum: A Global Stage for Brave Voices
The OFF is known for amplifying the stories of individuals who challenge dictatorships and fight for civil liberties. Past speakers include defectors from North Korea, survivors of Venezuela’s political prisons, and whistleblowers from Iran and China.
This year, Venâncio Mondlane joins that list, putting Mozambique’s democratic crisis into the global spotlight. With activists, artists, policymakers, and journalists from more than 60 countries in attendance, his message may reshape how the world sees Southern Africa’s oldest liberation party — and how it clings to power.
As international momentum builds, Mondlane’s appearance in Oslo may mark the beginning of Mozambique’s re-entry into global conversations on democracy, justice, and human dignity.
“When the people’s voice is silenced at home, we must amplify it abroad,” Mondlane told MOZTIMES
Stay tuned for our exclusive post-speech breakdown and reactions from global rights organizations.