A deadly prison riot in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, has claimed 33 lives and left 15 others injured, according to police general commander Bernardino Rafael. The chaos also enabled a mass escape, with 1,534 inmates fleeing the facility. Authorities have since recaptured 150 escapees.
The incident unfolds amid heightened tensions in the country following October’s disputed elections, which extended the ruling party Frelimo’s hold on power. Opposition groups allege electoral fraud, fueling widespread unrest.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the riot’s cause. Rafael attributed the upheaval to protests outside the prison, while Justice Minister Helena Kida stated that the violence originated inside the facility, unrelated to external demonstrations.
“The clashes resulted in 33 fatalities and 15 injuries near the jail,” Rafael reported at a media briefing, noting that the identities of those killed and injured remain unclear.
Earlier this week, Mozambique’s interior minister confirmed that 21 people had died in election-related violence after the country’s top court upheld Frelimo’s contested victory.
BBC NEWS, CNN, REUTERS
