Chaos in Maputo: Over 1,500 Prisoners Escape From Mozambique Jail During Deadly Prison Riot
Over 1,500 prisoners have reportedly escaped during a deadly prison riot that claimed the lives of at least 33 people and injured 15 others in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo.
The chaos was fueled by anti-government protests near the prison, creating the perfect storm for the prisoners to escape.
Over 1,500 Prisoners Escape From Jail
According to BBC News, police general commander Bernardino Rafael explained that the unrest began when groups of protesters approached the prison on Wednesday.
Taking advantage of the distraction, inmates overpowered guards, seized AK-47 rifles, and knocked down a prison wall to flee.
“The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail,” Rafael said.
Authorities believe the Christmas holiday season, with its reduced prison staff, made the facility particularly vulnerable to the breakout.
Casualties and Recapture Efforts
While the identities of those killed remain unclear, police have managed to recapture 150 of the escaped prisoners. However, the majority of the 1,500 escapees are still on the run. Efforts to track them down are ongoing.
Link to Civil Unrest
The jailbreak is the latest episode in Mozambique’s escalating turmoil following October’s contested elections. Anti-government protests have resulted in widespread violence. Across the country, Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories have been looted, vandalized, and set on fire.
Earlier this week, protests over the contested election results left at least 21 people dead, including two police officers. The ongoing unrest, which began on October 21, has now resulted in a total of 151 fatalities.
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