A violent prison riot in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, on Christmas Day claimed the lives of at least 33 people and left 15 others injured, according to police general commander Bernardino Rafael. The incident is part of a wave of civil unrest tied to October’s contested general election results, which have led to widespread protests across the country.
The riot erupted at a prison in Maputo and quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation. Speaking to the media, Rafael revealed that approximately 1,534 inmates managed to escape during the chaos. However, security forces have recaptured 150 of them so far. Rafael also disclosed that there were attempts at prison breaks in two other facilities, raising alarm about the country’s security situation. “We are worried as a country, Mozambicans and security forces,” he stated, warning of an anticipated rise in crime over the next 48 hours.
The unrest comes on the heels of Mozambique’s top court decision on Monday, which upheld the ruling Frelimo party’s controversial victory in the October elections. Opposition groups and their supporters have accused the ruling party of rigging the vote, triggering protests nationwide. While Rafael suggested that the demonstrations outside the prison fueled the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida countered this claim in an interview with local broadcaster Miramar TV. She stated that the disturbance began inside the prison and was unrelated to external protests.
“The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail,” Rafael said. Authorities have not yet clarified the identities of those killed or injured in the riot.
The broader civil unrest has proven deadly. On Tuesday, Mozambique’s interior minister confirmed that at least 21 people had been killed during protests sparked by the court ruling. Civil society group Plataforma Decide reported that prior to this week, at least 130 people had died in clashes with police since the unrest began in October.
The prison riot underscores the fragile security situation in Mozambique amid political turmoil. The mass escape of inmates adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile environment, as authorities brace for potential spikes in crime and unrest in the coming days. Security forces are continuing efforts to recapture the escaped prisoners while addressing the underlying causes of the nation’s growing instability.
