The Frelimo party, led by outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975.
More than 17 million Mozambicans were called on Wednesday to vote for a new president, with incumbent Filipe Nyusi, 65, barred by the constitution from seeking a third term.
Nyusi's Frelimo party has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, and its candidate Daniel Chapo is widely expected to become the new president.
The main candidates are:
Daniel Chapo's unknown favorites
Mr. Chapo, 47, was little known until May when he was nominated as Frelimo's candidate after failing to reach a consensus within his party, but the sudden announcement came as a surprise.
If elected, he, who has limited experience in politics and government, would become Mozambique's first president born after independence from Portugal, and the first not to have served as a Frelimo fighter.
A former political science lecturer, Chapo has a law degree and worked as a radio host. He was appointed governor of southern Inhambane province in 2016.
Venancio Mondlane, ambitious departure
Mr. Mondlane, a smart and ambitious 50-year-old, left the main opposition Renamo party in a leadership contest in June 2024 and joined the smaller party Podemos (We Can).
His charisma and fiery speeches have roused the enthusiasm of young voters, and analysts believe he could overshadow Renamo.
A forestry engineer who has served as Renamo councilor for Maputo since 2015, he was the party's candidate in the capital's mayoral election in 2023, but later lost the election alleging fraud.
He became known during protests against alleged fraud in the 2019 general election, in which Frelimo was declared to have won 73% of the vote.
Osufo Momade, opposition veteran
Momade, 63, has led Renamo since 2019, when he signed a deal with Frelimo to end a new outbreak of conflict after a failed first peace deal in 1992.
He joined the civil war as a 17-year-old soldier and rose to become one of Renamo's top military leaders.
Renamo was elected to parliament in 1999 after moving from the opposition to the conservative party, a position he still holds.
When Frelimo won a landslide victory in the October 2023 municipal elections, Momade claimed fraud and called for demonstrations.
Renamo, along with civil society and some international observers, allege fraud following the 2019 general election, and Momade refused to attend Nyusi's inauguration ceremony.
Lutero Simango, right of center
Mr Simango, 64, has been chairman of the centre-right Mozambique Democratic Movement since 2021, succeeding his late influential brother Davis Simango. The party was formed in 2009 after splitting from Renamo.
Simango has led campaigns focused on the economy and access to health care. He has been outspoken about his dislike for Frelimo, describing Frelimo's leaders as “thieves in red,” the party's colors. —AFP
