Maputo, 8 Jan (AIM) – A claim circulating on social media that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has intervened in Mozambique to cancel the statement from the Constitutional Council concerning the investiture of Daniel Chapo, general secretary of the ruling Frelimo Party, as the country’s next President, is completely false.
The ICC allegedly justified its decision on the basis of the many irregularities that occurred during the elections of 9 October, and the subsequent count. The ICC supposedly said “the process was compromised by flagrant violations which made it impossible to guarantee the legitimate will of the Mozambican people”.
The ICC decision also supposedly suspended the investiture of Chapo, scheduled for 15 January, until more far-reaching investigations can be held. The ICC also allegedly called for an independent audit of the election.
The fact checking unit of the Mozambican chapter of the regional press freedom body MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) investigated these claims and found them to be entirely false.
To date, the ICC has said absolutely nothing about the Mozambican elections. All the statements of the ICC are published on its official website, and there is no record of any recent declarations concerning Mozambique or the Constitutional Council.
MISA concludes “there is no factual basis for the supposed cancelation of the Constitutional Council statement by the ICC. This is another case of disinformation seeking to create confusion and destabilise the political context in Mozambique”.
(AIM)
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