Maputo, Mozambique — More than 1,500 inmates escaped from a high-security prison near Maputo on Wednesday, exploiting chaos sparked by ongoing unrest over Mozambique’s disputed election results.
A total of 1,534 detainees fled the facility located about 15 kilometers from the capital, police chief Bernardino Rafael said at a press conference. Clashes during the escape left 33 prisoners dead and 15 injured, he added.
Security forces, backed by the army, have arrested around 150 of the fugitives. Among the escapees, 30 were linked to armed insurgent groups operating in the northern Cabo Delgado province, Rafael noted.
The unrest began after Mozambique’s top court on Monday confirmed Frelimo’s victory in the October 9 election, a result contested by opposition groups and international observers who cited irregularities. Frelimo, in power since 1975, has faced allegations of vote-rigging following the re-election of its leader, Daniel Chapo, who secured 65.17% of the vote.
Protesters gathered near the prison on Wednesday, causing confusion and allowing inmates to knock down a wall and escape, Rafael said. The unrest in Maputo also included acts of vandalism, with stores, public buildings, ambulances, and a pharmacy set on fire, according to local reports.
Barricades blocked roads in several areas of the capital as demonstrators continued to occupy the streets. Some residents, defying the tense atmosphere, set up makeshift tables to celebrate Christmas outdoors with family and neighbors, eyewitnesses reported.
At least 150 people have been killed in the violence, according to reports from nongovernmental organizations monitoring the situation.
