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According to officials, a suspected riot in a prison in the capital of Mozambique has led to at least 33 deaths and 15 injuries, while more than 1,500 prisoners have reportedly escaped.On Wednesday, Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael stated that authorities have successfully recaptured 150 of the escaped inmates.
The nation of Mozambique is undergoing a rise in civil disturbances connected to the disputed election that took place in October, resulting in the prolonged rule of the Frelimo party. Opponents and their supporters claimed that the election was fraudulent.
While Rafael suggested that the protests outside the prison encouraged the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida clarified to local private broadcaster Miramar TV that the turmoil began within the prison and was not connected to the external demonstrations.
“Subsequent confrontations led to 33 deaths and 15 injuries in the vicinity of the prison,” Rafael stated at a media briefing.
Identity of the killed and injured people has not been confirmed yet. According to a report from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), prisoners managed to overpower the guards and take control of AK-47 rifles, facilitating their escape from the correctional facility.
This shocking incident raises significant concerns regarding the security environment and the judicial system in Mozambique, according to the Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, in a statement on X on Wednesday. “Now is a crucial time for authorities, civil society, and international collaborators to join forces to ensure the safety of the public and to address the fundamental challenges that have resulted in this situation.
In the aftermath of two days of violence linked to election results on Monday and Tuesday, at least 21 individuals, including two police officers, have been confirmed dead. The violence involved assaults on petrol stations, police stations, and banks. As a result, the overall death toll in the country has risen to 151 since October 21, as reported by the election monitoring group Plataforma Decide.
