Maputo, Mozambique – More than 6,000 prisoners have escaped from a maximum-security prison in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, as political tensions escalate following disputed election results, authorities have confirmed.
Police chief Bernardino Rafael revealed in a press conference that approximately 150 fugitives have been recaptured. However, the mass prison break has left security forces scrambling to restore order.
Clashes between guards and escaping inmates led to the deaths of 33 people, while 15 others sustained injuries. According to Mr. Rafael, the incident unfolded on Wednesday when groups of anti-government protesters approached the prison. Exploiting the chaos, prisoners managed to overpower them, took thier AK47, breach a wall, facilitating their escape.
Over 6,000 prisoners have escaped from a maximum security prison in Maputo, Mozambique.
They reportedly overpowered the prison guards and seized their AK-47 rifles. pic.twitter.com/V4pQ2w9xMv
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) December 25, 2024
Election Disputes Ignite Unrest
The turmoil stems from widespread protests that erupted on Monday after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the October presidential election results. The ruling Frelimo party, which has governed the country since its independence in 1975, was declared victorious.
Initially, electoral commission results indicated that President Daniel Chapo secured 71% of the vote, with his closest rival, Venâncio Mondlane, receiving 20%. However, the court revised the figures, declaring Chapo’s win at 65% and Mondlane’s at 24%.
Opposition parties and protesters have decried the election as fraudulent, with demonstrations spreading across several cities. The unrest has placed Mozambique under international scrutiny, with calls for calm and transparency growing louder.
Meanwhile, the elected President Chapo will expect to take the higher office in January 2025.
As Mozambique grapples with its most significant political crisis in years, the coming days will likely prove critical in shaping the country’s path forward.
