MAPUTO, Mozambique — Mozambique’s Supreme Court has summoned former presidential candidate and National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola) leader Venancio Mondlane to stand trial on five criminal charges linked to the mass demonstrations that followed the disputed October 2024 elections.

The protests, called by Mondlane to challenge what he described as fraudulent election results, initially began peacefully but later descended into violent clashes and widespread unrest.

Mondlane faces charges of public apology for a crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public instigation to commit a crime, instigation to terrorism and incitement to terrorism.

Speaking during a live broadcast on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Mondlane said he had received notification from the Supreme Court but that a specific trial date had not yet been set.

He said the proceedings were expected to begin within the next two to three months.

Mondlane added that his defence team had been given 10 days to respond to the summons or challenge the proposed timeframe.

Despite the pending legal proceedings, Mondlane said he was prepared to face trial, which is expected to be one of Mozambique’s most closely watched court cases.

“I think the country needs to go through this process, this stage, because it is the facts that will bear witness for me. We need to go through this trial by fire,” he said.

Mondlane described the case as a historic moment for Mozambique, saying it would be the first time a former presidential candidate had been prosecuted for challenging election results and demanding greater transparency in the electoral process.

He has consistently denied inciting violence during the demonstrations and instead blamed the unrest on what he described as excessive and violent police action.

“What was violent was the police’s response to the demonstrations. Credible organisations, including the country’s Bar Association (OAM), Amnesty International and the Decide Platform, never characterised the demonstrations as violent. It was the police who acted violently,” he said.

According to figures compiled by the Decide Platform, about 400 people were shot dead by police, while 619 others suffered gunshot injuries during five months of unrest that began on 21 October 2024.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said it had opened 31 cases against police officers in connection with the post-election violence. However, no police officer has so far been convicted.

Mondlane said he would announce the trial date in a future broadcast once it had been officially confirmed by the Supreme Court.