Mozambique presidential election, 2004

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Mozambique held a presidential election on 1–2 December 2004. President Joaquim Chissano was stepping down after 18 years in power and five candidates were vying to replace him.

Voters were also electing a new intake of deputies to the 150-member National Assembly. The presidential candidates were:

Armando Guebuza, Frelimo (Mozambican Liberation Front, ruling party; was favoured to win by a narrow majority)
Afonso Dhlakama, Renamo (Mozambican National Resistance, opposition)
Raul Domingos, PDD
Yaqub Sibindy, PIMO
Carlos Reis, FMGB

Officials expected the winner to be formally announced on December 17, but in fact results did not come until December 21. "Voting has started across the country and we have not had any big problems reported," said Interior Minister Almerino Manhenje.

Results

Guebuza won the presidential elections with 63.7% of the vote and took office in February 2005. Dhlakama came in a distant second with 31.7% of the vote, and announced that he does not recognize the results. The other candidates each received less than 3% of the vote. International observers to the elections criticized the fact that the National Electoral Commission (CNE) did not conduct fair and transparent elections. They listed a whole range of shortcomings by the electoral authorities that benefited the ruling party FRELIMO.

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