Thousands Mozambicanswho were forced to leave their place due to the mass mobilizations and extremely bloody riots that broke out after the country’s elections, which have been extremely intense this week and have been accompanied by vandalism and looting, are seeking asylum in neighboring countries, government sources said.

About 13,000 people applied to Malawithrough its southern border, according to the same sources.

The refugee wave began on Monday, coinciding with the confirmation by Mozambique’s supreme court of the victory of the ruling party, the Frelimoin the October 9 elections.

Local official in Nsanjeo Dominic Muandiraconfirmed that more than 2,500 families are present at the border and expressed concern that their number will increase even more in the coming days.

Ministries have been notified and the asylum seekers are being housed in temporary reception centers, he explained.

Her official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on condition of anonymity that the situation will require much more extensive efforts and coordination.

“Given the complexity of the situation, we have not yet verified the exact number of arrivals. The efforts to make a record started today (i.e. yesterday Saturday) and we will have a clearer picture after the process is completed”, he added.

“Then we will be able to assess how to move towards more permanent hosting,” he added.

In the kingdom of Iswatini, the foreign minister Polile Sakandou assured that her country welcomes the refugees from Mozambique with “open arms”.

More than 350 have arrived there this week and their total number has exceeded 500 since post-election protests and riots began in October, he said.

After the opposition called on its followers to take to the streets, after it denounced fraud in the elections and claimed that Frelimo had “stolen” its victory, the country, where Portuguese remains the official language, has been experiencing demonstrations and riots that have now lasted two months. strikes and lockouts. According to official figures, post-election violence has claimed the lives of 261 people, including 134 since the start of this week, according to the NGO Plataforma Decide.