The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday that the attendance of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the inauguration of Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo not only failed Mozambique’s citizens, but called into question South Africa’s credibility on the international stage.

Chapo was declared the winner of Mozambique’s October election with 65% of the vote, extending the 49-year-rule of the Frelimo party.

However, opposition parties claimed voting irregularities which then plunged the country into deadly protests and unrest.

DA spokesperson for International Relations & Cooperation Emma Louise Powell condemned Ramaphosa’s attendance at Chapo’s inauguration on Wednesday, saying this disregarded the escalating political and humanitarian crisis in Mozambique and undermined South Africa’s role as a champion of democracy and human rights in the region.

Rampahosa was joined by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

The DA called on Ramaphosa to urgently clarify the country’s position on Mozambique’s political crisis.

“…South Africa should be leading efforts within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to hold member States accountable to democratic norms, and prioritise regional stability by supporting a transparent, inclusive process to resolve Mozambique’s electoral dispute,” said Powell.

She pointed out that while opposition parties in Mozambique had alleged widespread “electoral manipulation,” international observers, including the EU, had criticised the elections as being marred by irregularities.

“The situation has since deteriorated, with over 300 lives lost and more than 600 people shot by State security forces. Cross-border trade has been severely disrupted, leading South Africa to close several border posts late last year, highlighting the direct impact of Mozambique’s instability on our nation,” Powell pointed out.

She further noted that just two weeks ago, Ramaphosa dispatched his national security adviser Sydney Mufamadi to Mozambique to address the violent unrest stemming from the disputed election results.

Mozambique’s post-election protests are the largest in the country’s history and have destabilised the gas-rich nation, which is a critical player in regional economic development, she added.

“Instead of standing with the Mozambican people who demand transparency and fairness, Ramaphosa has now aligned the country with the African National Congress’s fraternal ally, Frelimo, at the expense of democracy,” the DA said.