More than 1,500 prisoners have escaped from a prison in Mozambique, exploiting the chaos caused by ongoing political unrest following disputed election results, according to police reports.
At least 33 people were killed and 15 others injured during violent clashes between inmates and prison guards, police chief Bernardino Rafael announced at a press conference. While approximately 150 escapees have been recaptured, the majority remain at large.
The escape occurred on Wednesday in the capital, Maputo, when groups of anti-government protesters approached the prison facility. Prisoners took advantage of the escalating tensions, broke through a section of the prison wall, and fled.
Mozambique has been engulfed in turmoil since the October presidential elections, which saw Daniel Chapo of the ruling Frelimo party declared the winner.
The constitutional court recently upheld Chapo’s victory but revised his margin down from an initial 71% to 65%, while his main rival, Venâncio Mondlane, saw his share adjusted from 20% to 24%.
Protests erupted anew after the court’s ruling, with Frelimo offices, police stations, banks, and factories looted and set ablaze nationwide. Since the demonstrations began on Monday, at least 21 people have been killed, and the overall death toll since the election unrest began has surpassed 150.
Mondlane, who has since fled the country, continues to call for protests, alleging electoral fraud and warning of a “new popular uprising” if the results are not overturned.
