The Murders of two Important Opposition figures Devastated Mozambique.

The killings of two well-known opposition leaders have shook Mozambique and increased tensions ahead of scheduled demonstrations against the election results.

Alongside party leader Paulo Guambe, Elvino Dias, the lawyer for the new opposition party Podemos and advisor to its presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, passed away.

Late Friday night, they were shot dead by assailants who were pursuing the vehicle they were in. Social media videos show a BMW SUV with numerous bullet holes in its body in the middle of the road.

Provisional results indicate that Frelimo, who has ruled Mozambique since its independence from Portugal in 1975, is likely to win. They are scheduled for October 24.However, Western election observers have questioned the poll’s validity, claiming it fell short of international norms.

Vote-buying and the suppression of dissent against the ruling party are among the problems they have reported. Podemos has called for a statewide protest on Monday, and opposition parties have also denounced fraud.

Given that Mozambique’s security forces have previously opened fire on demonstrators, there are now concerns that the demonstrations could turn violent. Portugal and the European Union have demanded an investigation and denounced the murder of the Podemos executives.