More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a high-security prison near Maputo, Mozambique, on Wednesday during the third day of unrest following the controversial confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in recent elections.
At a press conference, National Police Chief Bernardino Rafael revealed that 1,534 inmates fled the facility, located approximately 15 kilometers from the capital. The clashes between prisoners and security personnel left 33 dead and 15 injured.
Rafael disclosed that about 150 fugitives were recaptured through a joint operation with the military. Among the escapees, around 30 were reportedly linked to armed groups responsible for the prolonged insurgency in Cabo Delgado province, a region plagued by violence for seven years.
“This is a particularly concerning development,” Rafael said, highlighting the potential implications of the escape.
The unrest erupted after Mozambique’s highest court confirmed on Monday that the Frelimo party, in power since 1975, had won the October 9 presidential election. Frelimo secured 65.17% of the vote, a slight decrease from the initial results announced by the electoral commission.
The prison break has added to the growing instability in the Portuguese-speaking nation, raising concerns about security and the ongoing political crisis.
