Prison break amid protests in Mozambique: 1,500 inmates escape, 33 killed | News from prison

A suspected riot has broken out at a prison in the capital Maputo, with some officials denying the incident was linked to post-election unrest.

A suspected prison riot in the Mozambican capital has left at least 33 people dead and 15 injured, while more than 1,500 inmates escaped, authorities said.

Police Commander General Bernardino Rafael said on Wednesday that 150 of the prisoners who escaped from the Maputo prison had been recaptured.

Mozambique has been experiencing escalating civil unrest since October contested electionswhich extended the long-term ruling party Frelimo in power. Opposition groups and their supporters claim the vote was rigged.

While Rafael blamed the protests outside the prison for fueling the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida told local private Miramar TV that the unrest started inside the prison and had nothing to do with the protests outside.

“The confrontations then resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injuries near the prison,” Rafael told a media briefing.

The identity of the dead and wounded is not clear.

A report by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said the inmates overpowered the guards and seized AK-47 rifles, allowing them to escape from the correctional facility.

Mozambican journalist Clemente Carlos told the SABC that the fugitives 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 state of security and the judicial system in Mozambique,” Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Mozambique Center for Democracy and Human Rights, wrote to X on Wednesday.

“Now, more than ever, it is critical that authorities, civil society and international partners work together 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 against election results on Monday and Tuesday, including attacks on petrol stations, police stations and banks.

The deaths brought the country's death toll to 151 as of Oct. 21, according to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group.