Over 1,500 prisoners escaped from a facility in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, during widespread protests over contested election results, according to local authorities.
The breakout, which occurred on Wednesday, was facilitated by anti-government demonstrators approaching the prison. Taking advantage of the chaos, inmates demolished part of the facility’s wall to flee. Law enforcement reported that 33 individuals were killed and 15 injured in violent clashes between guards and the escapees. Around 150 prisoners have since been recaptured, police officials stated.
The unrest erupted earlier this week when Mozambique’s constitutional court upheld the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in October’s presidential elections. This decision, however, revised President Daniel Chapo’s margin of victory to 65% against opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane’s 24%. The initial results had indicated a more substantial lead for Chapo.
Protests intensified after the court’s announcement, transforming Maputo into a ghost town on Christmas Eve. Businesses shut down, and residents stayed indoors to avoid violence, marking the most severe unrest since Frelimo came to power in 1975. Across the nation, Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories were looted, vandalized, and set on fire.
The country has witnessed over three months of protests, with 150 deaths recorded. Opposition leader Mondlane, now in exile, continues to call for demonstrations, claiming the election was fraudulent. In a recent message, he hinted at the possibility of a “popular uprising” if the results are not overturned.
The volatile situation highlights the deep political divide in Mozambique, as the government struggles to restore stability.
