Posted by At least 6,000 inmates escape from Mozambique jail: What we know
Authorities said the inmates broke free amid protests by opposition demonstrators angry at election results.
Published On 27 Dec 2024
Some 6,000 prisoners broke free from a high-security prison in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, on Wednesday, according to police authorities, as weeks-long post-election violence continues to rock the Southern African nation.
The country’s police chief, Bernadino Rafael, said the prisoners escaped from the Maputo Central Prison on Christmas Day, following what he called a “revolt”.
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At least 33 prisoners died and 15 were injured as the prisoners confronted security forces during their escape, he added. Officials at first said 1,500 detainees escaped, but revised that number up on Friday, according to The Associated Press news agency.
At least 151 people have died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces since the controversial October 9 elections, according to Plataforma Eleitoral Decide, an election monitoring group.
Here’s what to know about the violence that’s roiling the country, and the prison break that has cast a light on the nation’s crisis:
What’s happening in Mozambique?
The country is in the grip of widespread, violent riots that broke out following the controversial October 9 elections, which extended the long-ruling Frelimo party’s hold on power and awarded its candidate Daniel Chapo the presidency with 65 percent of votes cast.
Who Watches the Watchers? 