Chapo Is Mozambique Ruling Party’s Surprise Pick as Leader
- He is frontrunner to become next president after Oct. 9 vote
- Leadership change comes as nation sits on verge of gas boom
The flag of Mozambique
Photographer: Mike Egerton/PA Images/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Mozambique’s ruling party chose Daniel Chapo as its new leader, making the provincial governor the clear frontrunner to succeed President Filipe Nyusi after Oct. 9 elections.
The party, known by its Portuguese acronym Frelimo, made the decision on Sunday following a three-day meeting of its central committee near Maputo, the capital, Catarina Dimande, a member of the panel, announced on state television. Its pick comes as a surprise as Chapo has never served in the national cabinet and his name didn’t feature on most lists of potential winning candidates.