Over 1,500 inmates escaped from a high-security prison near Maputo, Mozambique, on Wednesday amid the third day of unrest following the confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in recent elections.
At a press conference, National Police Chief Bernardino Rafael revealed that 1,534 prisoners fled from the facility, located approximately 15 kilometres from the capital. During the attempted escape, clashes with prison staff resulted in 33 inmates being killed and 15 others injured.
Rafael stated that a search operation supported by the military has so far led to the recapture of around 150 fugitives. Among the escapees, approximately 30 were linked to armed groups responsible for ongoing unrest and attacks in Cabo Delgado province over the past seven years.
“This is a particularly concerning situation,” Rafael remarked.
The jailbreak coincides with political tension in the Portuguese-speaking nation. On Monday, the country’s highest court confirmed Frelimo’s victory in the October 9 presidential election, which had already sparked weeks of protests. In power since 1975, Frelimo secured 65.17% of the vote, slightly lower than the initial tally announced by the electoral commission.
