A chaotic prison riot in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, has resulted in at least 33 fatalities and 15 injuries, with over 1,500 inmates escaping, according to authorities, Al Jazeera reports.
The incident, which occurred at a correctional facility in the city, has sparked serious concerns about the country’s security and justice system, particularly amidst growing civil unrest linked to disputed election results.
Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael stated on Wednesday that 150 of the escaped prisoners have been recaptured. While he initially attributed the riot to protests outside the prison, Justice Minister Helena Kida contradicted this claim, asserting on local broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest originated inside the facility and was unrelated to external demonstrations.
“The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail,” Rafael told a media briefing.
Reports from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) indicate that inmates overpowered guards and seized AK-47 rifles, enabling their escape. Mozambican journalist Clemente Carlos suggested the escapees may have taken advantage of reduced staffing levels due to the Christmas holiday season.
The incident has prompted widespread alarm. Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, expressed his concern on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “This shocking incident raises urgent questions about the state of security and the justice system in Mozambique.” He further called for collaboration between authorities, civil society, and international partners to ensure public safety and address the systemic issues contributing to the situation.
The prison riot comes against a backdrop of escalating civil unrest in Mozambique, triggered by the October election results, which saw the long-ruling Frelimo party retain power despite widespread allegations of vote rigging by opposition groups and their supporters.
Adding to the instability, at least 21 people, including two police officers, died in two days of violence connected to the election results on Monday and Tuesday. Attacks targeted petrol stations, police stations, and banks. According to the election monitoring group Plataforma Decide, the recent violence has brought the death toll since October 21 to 151.
