Mozambique’s main opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane has announced that he will take office as president on January 15 after denying that he lost the presidential election.

His announcement came as his supporters staged violent protests across the country demanding an end to Frelimo’s 49-year rule.

On Christmas Eve, the capital Maputo resembled a ghost town, with almost all businesses closed and people staying home to avoid the worst riots in the city since Frelimo came to power as an independent in 1975.

Frelimo offices, police stations, banks and factories across the country were looted, vandalized and set on fire.

The latest unrest began on Monday after Mozambique’s Supreme Court upheld the victory of FREMO’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo in October’s elections.

Mondlane challenged the results, claiming the polls were rigged.

Speaking live to supporters on Facebook on Tuesday, Mondelein said he rejected the Constitutional Court’s ruling, adding that he would be sworn in as president on January 15, the day El Chapo is sworn in.

President Filipe Nyusi will resign after two terms.

It’s unclear how Mondlane plans to take office, as he is currently in self-exile in an unknown country.

He often uses Facebook Live speeches to rally supporters but also urges them to remain peaceful.

“We stand with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane said in his latest speech.

El Chapo has yet to comment on his statement.

In the October election, the first time either man had run for president, the Electoral Commission declared El Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondelein’s 20%.

The Constitutional Court revised the results, giving Frelimo’s candidate 65% and Mondelein 24%.

Rights groups say more than 100 people have been killed in unrest since the election.

They blame security forces for many of the killings, but police commander Bernardino Rafael has previously told the BBC that his officers had been acting in self-defence after being attacked.

Mondlane fled Mozambique after accusing police of threatening behavior, and two of his aides were shot dead in October.

The 50-year-old evangelical pastor is running as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition party, the Resistance Movement.

His support is strongest among young people, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.

Frelimo selected El Chapo, 47, as its youngest-ever presidential candidate.

He has previously denied claims that FRELIMO rigged the election, saying: “We are an organized party that is preparing for victory.”