Over 1,500 Prisoners Escape Amid Unrest in Mozambique Following Election Dispute
Violence Erupts Across Mozambique as Thousands Escape Prison Amid Election Protests
- More than 1,500 inmates have escaped from a prison in Mozambique's capital, Maputo
- The unrest began earlier this week after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of the ruling Frelimo party
- At least 21 people have died in the past few days of unrest
More than 1,500 inmates have escaped from a prison in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, taking advantage of political unrest sparked by disputed election results, authorities have confirmed.
Mozambique’s police chief, Bernardino Rafael, reported that at least 33 people were killed, and 15 others injured in the clashes that occurred during the escape. Some 150 fugitives have been recaptured since then.
The unrest began earlier this week after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of the ruling Frelimo party in the controversial October presidential elections.
The ruling triggered protests across the country, particularly in the capital, as opposition supporters decried the outcome as fraudulent.
On Wednesday, a group of anti-government protesters gathered near the Maputo prison, creating a diversion that allowed inmates to break out. The prisoners reportedly used the chaos to break down a wall and flee the facility, further escalating tensions in the capital.
The October elections saw the Frelimo party’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, declared the winner with 71% of the vote, while his main rival, Venâncio Mondlane, received 20%. However, the court later revised Chapo’s margin, ruling he won 65% of the vote to Mondlane’s 24%.
The city of Maputo was eerily quiet on Christmas Eve, with most businesses closed and residents staying indoors to avoid the violence. Since the court ruling, protests have intensified, and there have been reports of widespread looting and arson across the country, including attacks on government offices, police stations, banks, and factories.
At least 21 people have died in the past few days of unrest, with the death toll from three months of protests now reaching around 150, according to the interior minister.
Mondlane, who has fled the country, has repeatedly called for his supporters to protest what he believes was a rigged election. In a recent social media post, he warned that a “new popular uprising” could occur if the election results were not overturned.
The situation remains tense, as Mozambique continues to grapple with one of its most serious political crises in decades.
