South African authorities were forced to re-close the Lebombo border port this morning after tensions in Mozambique flared up once again. Despite an initial belief that the situation had stabilised following violent protests, the unrest has only escalated, leading to a volatile standoff that saw Mozambican border officials fleeing for safety.
The Lebombo border, which connects South Africa and Mozambique, had briefly reopened earlier this morning under the assumption that calm had been restored across the border. However, by 8:00 AM, protesters on the Mozambican side intensified their actions, prompting authorities to take swift action. Dr. Michael Masiapato, Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), confirmed that the situation had rapidly deteriorated, forcing them to close the border once more.
“The situation we are dealing with here is very unpredictable and volatile,” Dr. Masiapato said in a statement. “Around 8 AM, protesters began to escalate their demonstrations on the Mozambican side—burning offices at Kilometre 4, looting trucks, and creating a general atmosphere of chaos. It was clear that the situation was becoming dangerous.”
The protests, which began as local demonstrations, quickly became more organized and militant. As the protesters advanced toward the border town of Ressano Garcia, it became evident that they were mobilizing for a larger movement, potentially heading toward the Mozambican capital, Maputo. In response, Mozambican border officials at Kilometre 4 shut down their offices and fled to South Africa for refuge, with at least 15 Mozambican port officials seeking safety on the South African side of the border.
“The protesters were not only burning trucks but were also targeting government property, including port offices,” Dr. Masiapato added. “This posed a serious security risk, and we had no choice but to close the border again for safety purposes.”
The unrest in Mozambique is largely driven by anger over last month’s contentious general elections. The ruling Frelimo Party was declared the winner, but widespread allegations of electoral fraud have fuelled protests across the country. Demonstrators insist that the results were rigged, and tensions have only risen as the country’s Constitutional Court continues to review the outcome.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has called for calm, urging both Mozambican authorities and protesters to allow the electoral process to unfold without further violence. Minister Ronald Lamola emphasised the need for restraint and patience, particularly as Mozambique’s Constitutional Court works to validate the election results.
“South Africa calls for calm and restraint to allow the electoral process to conclude successfully and give the Constitutional Court of Mozambique the time and space it needs to validate the election results in accordance with its mandate,” Lamola said.
For now, the Lebombo border remains closed, and it’s unclear when it will reopen. The volatile situation on the Mozambican side continues to unfold, and South African authorities are closely monitoring developments. With border officials taking refuge on the South African side, and the threat of further escalation looming, the future of the region’s stability remains uncertain.
