In a statement issued on Thursday, Mahamat said scores of people are losing their lives following the elections results and expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved and calls for calm.
The Chairperson encouraged security services to exercise restraint in the use of force in the midst of the violence and maintenance of law and order.
The Chairperson further urged the government and all the national political and social actors to seek a peaceful solution to resolving the current crisis and avoid further loss of life and destruction of property.
The Chairperson reaffirms the AU’s commitment to collaborate with the Mozambican Government and national stakeholders, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) towards putting a stop to the violence and safeguarding of constitutional democracy in the Republic of Mozambique.
Violence erupted in Mozambique’s major cities after the Constitutional Council confirmed Daniel Chapo’s victory in the disputed 9 October presidential elections, killing at least 21 people, including two police officers.
Mozambique’s Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo on Tuesday that the unrest was triggered by the court’s announcement the day before.
The wave of violence and looting was mainly led by young supporters of defeated candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who secured 24 percent of the vote, while Chapo won 65 percent.
MG/abj/APA