South Africa closes its border again with Mozambique, where post-election violence worsens

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa closed its border with Mozambique shortly after opening it on Thursday as post-election violence in the neighboring country escalated, leading to clashes between protesters and the police.

Authorities also warned South Africans to postpone non-essential visits to Mozambique. Amnesty International said on Wednesday that at least 20 people have died and hundreds more have been injured and arrested since the beginning of the protests in late October.

The border was closed this week and partially opened earlier on Thursday to allow limited movement of trucks and vehicles stuck there, but the decision was quickly reversed.

Protesters in Mozambique, organized by opposition leaders and their supporters disputing the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. Police have reportedly fired teargas to disperse protesters in the capital of Maputo.

Videos on social media sites belonging to opposition leader Venancio Mondlane show scores of young people marching toward Maputo and barricading streets with rocks and burning tires.

Mondlane, who came in second in the presidential election with 20% of the vote, has reportedly fled the country after two of his aides were killed before the results were announced.

South Africa’s Border Management Agency said it closed its side of the border after 15 employees from the Mozambican border post crossed over seeking refuge and protection.

“They say that the protesters are on the way and have just passed the area where they process the trucks and some of the travelers. They looted everything there, they took computers and they looted the trucks, the situation is just bad,” said agency commissioner Mike Masiapato.

South Africa's international relations minister, Ronald Lamola, called for calm and an end to the violence.

“South Africa expresses concern at the outbreak of incidents of post-electoral violence and regrets the loss of lives and destruction of property," Lamola said.

Internet services in Mozambique have been disrupted since last Friday.

The opposition has accused the ruling Frelimo of rigging the election in favor of its presidential candidate Daniel Chapo, who was declared the winner with more than 70% of the votes by the national Mozambique Electoral Commission.

While the commission declares the results, it is up to the Constitution Council to verify them and deal with any outstanding disputes, including those lodged by opposition parties Renamo and Podemos.

Mozambique authorities threatened this week to unleash the army to quell the protests, accusing the demonstrators of trying to overthrow a democratically elected government. Human rights groups have describes the government's handling of the protests as the worst crackdown in years.

A worker closes the border crossing to Mozambique, in Lebombo, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. South Africa closed its border with Mozambique shortly after opening it on Thursday as post-election violence in the neighboring country escalated. (AP Photo)

Border officials inspect a burnt-out Mozambican border patrol vehicle at the border crossing in Lebombo, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. South Africa closed its border with Mozambique shortly after opening it on Thursday as post-election violence in the neighboring country escalated. (AP Photo)

Protesters recover from tear gas fired by police in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

A police officer aims his weapon at protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

Police deploy amid opposition protests in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

Protesters disperse as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

A woman walks past a barricade set fire by protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections that saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

Protesters fill the street as police deploy in Maputo, Mozambique, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Protesters dispute the outcome of the Oct. 9 elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year rule. (AP Photo/Carlos Uqueio)

Federal judges on Tuesday temporarily blocked Alabama’s plan to use a new congressional map that could give Republicans an advantage in a key U.S. House race in the midterm elections.

A three-judge panel in the state’s long-running redistricting case issued the preliminary injunction that prevents the state, at least for now, from switching maps. It requires Alabama to continue using the same court-ordered districts under which congressional representatives were elected in 2024.

Lawyers representing Black voters in the state's lengthy redistricting case had sought the preliminary injunction, arguing the same panel in 2023 found the state map was intentionally discriminatory against Black voters. They also argued Alabama was creating chaos by trying to change lines in the middle of an election year.

The ruling was a defeat for state Republicans who want to use a map for the November midterms that will give the GOP a chance to reclaim the seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures. However, the state could appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court order is the latest development in the twisting legal and political saga following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. That ruling has led Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, to take steps to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats.

The redistricting frenzy is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans’ slim House majority in the November elections.

Other states also have considered adjustments to their primary elections to allow time for congressional redistricting after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision affecting the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana’s congressional primaries, scheduled for May 16, were postponed until later this summer by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry so that state lawmakers could consider a new U.S. House map that would eliminate a majority-Black district.

In South Carolina, the Republican-led legislature considered a plan that would throw out the votes from its June 9 congressional primary and instead hold a new primary in August under revised districts that could improve Republicans’ chances of winning an additional seat.

Tennessee also moved quickly to enact new U.S. House districts after the Supreme Court’s ruling by carving up a Black-majority district based in Memphis that had elected the state’s only Democratic representative. The new map gives Republicans a chance to sweep all nine of the state’s seats. As part of the plan, Tennessee temporarily reopened the candidate qualifying period for its August congressional primaries, allowing new candidates to enter the race and existing ones to either switch districts or drop out.

Since Trump first urged Texas to redraw its U.S. House districts last summer, about a half-dozen Republican-led states have enacted new voting districts, though some still face legal challenges. Democrats countered with new districts in California and also expect to gain a seat from new court-imposed districts in Utah.

Travis Jackson stands outside the federal courthouse on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Birmingham, Ala. after a court hearing related to redistricting litigation. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)