Approximately 1,534 inmates escaped from a prison in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, on Wednesday, leaving 33 people dead, according to reports. At least 150 prisoners have been recaptured, some with injuries sustained during the chaos.
The riot came a day after violent protests claimed 21 lives across the country, following the Constitutional Council’s confirmation of Daniel Chapo as the winner of the disputed October elections. Opposition groups have rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud, and protests have escalated.
Mozambique’s Interior Minister, Pascoal Ronda, announced that at least 78 protesters had been arrested as security forces increased their presence in key areas to restore order. “The armed and defense force will increase its presence in critical and key points,” Ronda said on state broadcaster TVM.
Frelimo, the party in power since Mozambique’s independence in 1975, has long faced allegations of election rigging, which it denies.
Ronda reported that in the past 24 hours, 236 violent incidents were recorded nationwide, resulting in 21 deaths, including two police officers. Another 13 civilians and 12 police officers were injured in the clashes.
Unrest fueled by opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote to Chapo’s 65%, has paralyzed daily life, with empty streets and shuttered shops in the capital.
Authorities are preparing for continued tensions as Mozambique faces its worst wave of political unrest in years.