By CDD
Ramaphosa in Mozambique’s Elections
Maputo, September 18, 2024
We express our strong condemnation of the unacceptable interference by the President of the
Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, in publicly expressing his support for the
presidential candidate of Frelimo, Daniel Chapo, in the midst of the electoral campaign for the
upcoming elections in Mozambique, scheduled for October 9th. The meeting held yesterday in
Pretoria between President Ramaphosa and Frelimo’s Secretary-General and presidential
candidate, Daniel Chapo, during which the ANC guaranteed its support for Frelimo, constitutes a
clear violation of the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states,
enshrined by both the SADC and the African Union.
President Ramaphosa’s intervention in favor of a specific candidate, in the midst of an ongoing
electoral campaign, represents an outright abuse of his position as Head of State and leader of a
dominant party in a neighboring nation. Such actions directly interfere with Mozambique’s
democratic process, jeopardizing the legitimacy of the elections and undermining the spirit of
cooperation and neutrality that should prevail in bilateral and regional relations.
Both SADC and the African Union have established clear norms promoting impartiality and non-
interference in the electoral processes of member states, with the goal of ensuring free, fair, and
transparent elections. By taking sides and directly influencing the political landscape of
Mozambique during such a critical period as the electoral campaign, President Ramaphosa is
disregarding these norms, weakening the region’s collective commitment to democratic stability.
It is unacceptable for the leader of a neighboring country to use their position to influence the
electoral outcomes of a sovereign nation. Such behavior erodes trust in democratic institutions and
sets a dangerous precedent for democracy across the SADC region.
We therefore call upon both SADC and the African Union to take a firm stance on this matter,
ensuring that all leaders in the region adhere to the principles of non-interference and foster an
environment conducive to free and fair elections, without external influence.
The sovereignty and integrity of Mozambique’s electoral process must be respected.(Moz24h)
