More than 1,500 Escape Mozambique Prison amid Election Protests
Over 1,500 inmates broke out of a prison in Mozambique, exploiting chaos sparked by disputed election results, according to police reports.
During the escape, 33 people were killed and 15 injured in violent clashes with prison guards, police chief Bernardino Rafael revealed during a press briefing. Authorities have since recaptured around 150 of the escaped prisoners, he added.
Protests erupted on Monday after Mozambique’s constitutional court upheld the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in October’s presidential election. The Frelimo party has held power since 1975.
Rafael explained that anti-government protesters gathered outside the prison in Maputo on Wednesday, creating a diversion that allowed inmates to breach a wall and flee.
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Unrest has gripped Mozambique since the controversial elections in October, where official results initially declared Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, the winner with 71% of the vote against opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane’s 20%. However, the constitutional court recently revised Chapo’s victory margin to 65% compared to Mondlane’s 24%.
The protests intensified after the court’s ruling, turning Maputo into a near ghost town by Christmas Eve. Businesses closed, and residents stayed indoors as violent clashes unfolded. Government offices, police stations, banks, and factories across the country have been looted, vandalized, and set on fire.
Interior Minister reports confirmed that at least 21 people have died in the latest wave of protests.
Meanwhile, Mondlane, who has fled the country, has called for continued demonstrations against what he alleges to be a fraudulent election. In a social media statement, he hinted at the possibility of a “popular uprising” if the election results were not overturned.
Since the October elections, over 150 people have lost their lives in ongoing protests.
More than 1,500 Escape Mozambique Prison amid Election Protests
