The second runner-up to the president of Mozambique escapes an assassination attempt

Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, who came second in last month’s disputed presidential election, says he escaped an assassination attempt in South Africa, where he fled after protesting the results.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mondlane said he was “at risk of death” after the killers went to his house and tried to kill him.

Mondlane said he had to jump out the back door and run to the hair salon, carrying his bags and being accompanied by his wife and daughter.

He did not provide evidence to support his claims and the Mozambican authorities have not yet commented.

Mondlane went into hiding two weeks ago, after that his assistant and lawyer were killed while preparing to challenge the results.

Daniel Chapo, a candidate for the ruling Frelimo party, was officially declared the winner with more than 71% of the vote, compared to Mondlane’s 20%.

Mondlane did not specify exactly where the allegations took place.

In this video, he said he was living in a wealthy neighborhood in Sandton, Johannesburg.

“I was with my wife and daughter and we were running from one place to another,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Africa told AFP that it did not even know that Mondlane was in the country and that the matter should have been reported to the police.

The BBC contacted the South African police, but they did not respond.

Mondlane went into hiding before the announcement of the results saying that his house was surrounded by members of the security forces.

He called on Mozambicans to hold protests across the country against the election results, which are being challenged in court by the Podemos party that supports Mondlane.

These demonstrations led to violence between the police and many people were killed and many were injured.

Internet and social media are also restricted.

The strike called by Mondlane continued even though the prime minister told people to go back to work.

Three children were reportedly shot dead by police in different areas of the capital Maputo on Monday, while eight people were reportedly killed in the northern province of Nampula over the weekend.

It has been reported that two Frelimo offices in Nampula were attacked, prompting the police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and bullets and one person was killed.

The protesters then set fire to a house said to belong to a police officer accused of killing a protester.

Mondlane has been encouraging people to gather for the “last march” in Maputo, on Thursday.

The seven-day protest he called last week is coming to an end.