A prison riot in Mozambique’s capital Maputo has resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injuries, according to Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael. Approximately 1,534 people escaped from the facility during the incident, with 150 recaptured so far.
The unrest is linked to ongoing civil unrest and disputed election results that have prolonged Frelimo’s rule since October. Opposition groups claim the vote was rigged, while protesters outside the prison were blamed for fueling the riot by Police General Commander Rafael.
However, Justice Minister Helena Kida disputes this, stating that the unrest began inside the prison and has no connection to protests outside. The incident occurred after a local court confirmed Frelimo’s victory on Monday.
Mozambique’s interior minister reported 21 deaths in related unrest earlier this week. The identities of those killed and injured remain unclear due to the chaotic circumstances surrounding the riot.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/25/africa/mozambique-maputo-prison-riot-intl-latam/index.html