A jail riot in Maputo has led to the death of 33 people with at least 15 others injured while more than 1,500 prisoners have escaped, authorities have said. However, Bernardino Rafael, a Police general Commander in the Mozambican capital on Wednesday confirmed that 150 of the prisoners who fled the prison in Maputo have been recaptured.
The Jail riot comes at a tense period in Mozambique which is experiencing escalating civil unrest linked to October’s disputed election, which extended long-ruling party Frelimo’s stay in power. Opposition groups and their supporters claim the vote was rigged.
Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot. “The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail,” Rafael told a media briefing.
The identities of those killed and injured were unclear. A report by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said the prisoners overpowered guards and seized AK-47 rifles, allowing them to escape the correctional facility.
Clemente Carlos, a Mozambican journalist, told SABC the escapees likely took advantage of the Christmas holiday season when fewer guards were on duty compared with regular working days.
“This shocking incident raises urgent questions about the state of security and the justice system in Mozambique,” Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Now, more than ever, it is critical for authorities, civil society, and international partners to collaborate to ensure public safety and address the systemic challenges that led to this situation.”
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that at least 21 people, including two police officers, were confirmed dead during two days of violence over election results on Monday and Tuesday, including attacks on petrol stations, police stations, and banks.
According to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group, the fatalities have brought the death toll in the country to 151 since October 21.
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