Dozens of prisoners killed during jailbreak as Christmas Day riots grip Mozambique
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Civil unrest over disputed presidential election result continues. At least 33 people died and over a dozen sustained injuries in a prison riot in Mozambique's capital as civil unrest over October's disputed election continued on Christmas Day. Authorities in Maputo said that more than 1,500 inmates also escaped the prison on the third day of unrest in the African nation triggered by the controversial judicial confirmation of the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the election.
![[Burnt commercial structures in Maputo]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/26/04/2190699177.jpg)
The nation’s interior minister, Pascoal Ronda, blamed supporters of losing presidential candidate Venancio Mondlan for starting the violence. “A total of 1,534 detainees escaped the prison located about 15km from the capital,” national police chief Bernardino Rafael said.
![[Mozambican security forces seen next to a burning barricade in Maputo]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/26/04/2190696411.jpg)
“Among those attempting to escape, 33 were killed and 15 wounded in clashes with prison staff,” he said. A search operation backed by the military, the police chief added, led to the arrest of some 150 fugitives. While Mr Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot, justice minister Helena Kida told local broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest started inside the prison and had nothing to do with the protests outside.
He said there were jailbreak attempts at two other prisons. "We are worried as a country, Mozambicans and security forces," he said. "We expect in the next 48 hours a rise in crime.". The prison riots began a day after 21 people were killed in the unrest that ensued after the judiciary confirmed the victory of presidential candidate Daniel Chapo on Monday.
