Daniel Chapo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Chapo in 2016 | |
| 5th President of Mozambique | |
| Assumed office 15 January 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Maria Benvinda Levy[1] |
| Preceded by | Filipe Nyusi |
| Governor ofInhambane Province | |
| In office 4 March 2016 – 23 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Agostinho Trinta |
| Succeeded by | Eduardo Mussanhane[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1977-01-06)6 January 1977 (age 48) Inhaminga,Sofala Province, Mozambique |
| Political party | FRELIMO |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Eduardo Mondlane University Catholic University of Mozambique |
Daniel Francisco Chapo (born 6 January 1977) is a Mozambican politician, lawyer and jurist who has been the fifthpresident of Mozambique since 15 January 2025. Chapo previously served as the governor ofInhambane Province from 2016 to 2024. Chapo was the Secretary-General and candidate of the ruling political party,FRELIMO, for the2024 presidential election.
Chapo was born on 6 January 1977 inInhaminga,Sofala Province, Mozambique.[3] He had hisprimary school education in Inhaminga from 1982 to 1985, then inDondo District from 1986 to 1987, and hadsecondary education in Dondo District from 1988 to 1996, then atEscola Secundária Samora Machel [pt] inBeira from 1997 to 1998.[3] He attendedEduardo Mondlane University inMaputo and studied law, graduating with a degree in 2000.[4] Chapo became anotary public in 2004.[4] He later received amaster's degree in development management from theCatholic University of Mozambique in 2014.[5]
Chapo worked as an announcer for Rádio Miramar in Beira from 1997 to 1998 and later was anews presenter forTelevisão Miramar in the capital from 2003 to 2004.[3][6] He was appointed conservator ofNacala-Porto in 2005.[3] Heinterned for abar association from 2007 to 2008 and also taught political science and constitutional law atMaputo Pedagogical University in 2009.[3][7]
Chapo entered politics with the partyFRELIMO in 2009, being appointed administrator of theNacala-a-Velha District.[3] He later became administrator of thePalma District in 2015.[3]
He was appointed the governor ofInhambane Province on 4 March 2016.[3] Three years later, he was elected to the position during thegeneral elections in October 2019.[3]
On 5 May 2024, Chapo was announced as the FRELIMO candidate for the2024 presidential election, to replace the term-limitedFilipe Nyusi, with 225 votes (94%) by the party committee.[8][9] Considered relatively unknown, his nomination was seen as a surprise.[10][11] On 13 May, he was appointed the party's interim secretary-general.[12] He later announced his resignation as governor of Inhambane Province, which was approved by the legislature on 23 May, to focus on the election on 9 October.[13] He would be succeeded as governor of Inhambane province by Eduardo Mussanhane, the Speaker of the Inhambane Provincial Assembly.[2]
He is the first FRELIMO presidential candidate to have been born after the country's independence from Portugal in 1975.[9] Due to the dominance of FRELIMO in Mozambican politics, Chapo was viewed as the favorite to win the election.[6][14][15] On 24 October, Mozambique's electoral commission announced that Chapo won the election with 71% of the vote.[16]
However, the election was marred by allegations of widespread fraud and irregularities.[17][18] The oppositionPODEMOS party disputed the results, publishing their own parallel count from their election monitors which showedVenâncio Mondlane won with 53% of the vote. PODEMOS provided over 660 pounds of tabulated ballots to support their election count.[19] The result was also questioned by theEpiscopal Conference of Mozambique and theEuropean Union, whiledeadly protests broke out over the election results, with at least 250 deaths, mostly demonstrators being killed by police and army forces.[20][21]
Despite protests, Chapo was inaugurated as president on 15 January 2025.[22]On January 18, 2025 Chapo named Maria Benvinda Levi as Prime Minister.[23]
Chapo is married to Gueta Sulemane Chapo[24] and has four children.[3] He is aChristian.[3]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of Mozambique 2025–present | Incumbent |
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