A suspicious riot has broken out inside a prison in the capital Maputo, with some authorities denying any connection to the post-election unrest.
At least 33 people have been killed and 15 injured in a suspected riot inside a prison in the Mozambican capital, while more than 1,500 prisoners escaped, officials said.
Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael said on Wednesday that 150 of the prisoners who escaped from a prison in Maputo have been recaptured.
Mozambique is facing growing civil unrest linked to a disputed October election that has boosted longtime ruling party Frelimo to remain in power. Opposition groups and their supporters claim that the vote was rigged.
While Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for sparking the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida told local private broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest began inside the prison and was unrelated to the protests outside. Was.
“In the clashes that followed, 33 people were killed and 15 injured around the prison,” Rafael said at a media briefing.
The identities of those killed and injured are not clear.
A report by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said the prisoners attacked guards and seized AK-47 rifles, allowing them to escape the correctional facility.
Mozambican journalist Clemente Carlos told the SABC that the escapees likely took advantage of the Christmas holiday season, when fewer guards were on duty than on regular weekdays.
“This shocking incident raises urgent questions about the security situation and the justice system in Mozambique,” Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Now, more than ever, it is critical for authorities, civil society, and international partners to collaborate to ensure public safety and address the systemic challenges that have led to this situation.”
Meanwhile, at least 21 people, including two police officers, were confirmed dead during two days of violence over the election results on Monday and Tuesday, which also included attacks on petrol stations, police stations and banks.
According to election monitoring group Platforma Decide, the death toll in the country since October 21 has reached 151.
