Supporters of Mozambican opposition leader Venancio Mondlane were injured as police tried to disperse the crowd that greeted him after he returned from self-imposed exile on Thursday.
He had left the country believing his life to be in danger following a disputed presidential election in October that sparked deadly protests.
Mondlane landed at the capital Maputo’s main airport amid tensions and tight security, with thousands of people gathering to greet him.
His return comes ahead of Daniel Chapo’s swearing-in as president next week. He is a candidate for the ruling Frelimo party and was declared the winner of the October poll by the Constitutional Court.
The final official results announced by the country’s Supreme Court just two weeks ago showed Chapo in second place with 65% of the vote, followed by Mondlane with 24%.
Frelimo has been in power for the past 50 years, since independence from Portugal.
Mondlane is seen on video emerging from an airport building, kneeling on the ground holding a Bible and being cheered by supporters.
The 50-year-old Pentecostal preacher began praying and said he had won the election.
“I, Venancio Mondlane, the next president elected by the true will of the Mozambican people, swear on my honor to serve the Mozambican homeland and its people,” he declared.
He said he was returning to move closer to weeks of nationwide demonstrations that have left dozens of people dead.
Three people were shot and wounded Thursday in one of the capital’s markets after a brief rally held by Mondrain, police spokesman Orlando Mdumane said.
Witnesses said shots were fired as police were trying to disperse the crowd. The injured were then taken to the hospital.
There are also reports of unconfirmed fatalities.
A police spokesperson also told reporters that two off-duty police officers were killed in an attack in another province, Nampula.
In his first comments since entering the country, Mondlane said he was ready to talk about how to resolve tensions over the disputed poll, which he claimed was stolen from him. There is.
“If you want to negotiate, I’m here,” he said.
He added that he had returned to protest the “atrocities” being committed against his supporters and to defend himself against allegations of criminal charges.
He also said he would “continue to fight for this country and prevent the status quo from continuing.”
Mr Mondlane, who has been organizing protests through broadcasts on Facebook, announced his imminent return over the weekend, saying: “You don’t have to follow me anymore.”
“(The authorities) can kill me if they want, but the fight will continue,” he said in a defiant message.
Ahead of Mondlane’s landing, the airport was heavily guarded by police officers who tried to prevent his supporters from reaching the area.
Mondlane said his return did not result from any political agreement and was a “unilateral decision”. He previously said he would be sworn in as president on January 15.
Waves of protests have left more than 270 people dead, including demonstrators, children and members of security forces, since the October election, according to human rights groups.
Protests and a violent crackdown by security forces are testing the country’s stability, and there are fears that anything with Mondlane could make things worse.
