A serious breach of security occurred on December 25 in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, when a mass prison escape took place. The country’s police chief confirmed the incident, linking it with the ongoing civil unrest due to disputes surrounding the recent elections. The escape from the maximum-security prison is part of a broader pattern of riots and civil disruption currently plaguing the nation.
According to authorities, a minimum of 6,000 prisoners escaped from Maputo Central Prison. The incident, referred to as a rebellion, was fueled by the external chaos. During the confrontation with security forces, 33 prisoners lost their lives, and 15 others were injured, as reported by Police Chief Bernardino Rafael.
The country is currently grappling with two simultaneous crises: an unprecedented jailbreak and a wave of civil unrest across Mozambique, including its capital. The spark for the protests was the controversial confirmation by the Constitutional Council of the ruling Frelimo party’s victory in the October 9 election. During these protests, demonstrators attacked police and public infrastructure.
Rafael provided a detailed account of the events at Maputo Central Prison, situated roughly 9 miles southwest of the city. He indicated that the turmoil started around noon Wednesday when a group of “subversive protesters” assembled near the facility, causing a wall to collapse. In the ensuing chaos, inmates reportedly took weapons from the guards and started releasing other prisoners.
“A curious fact is that in that prison, we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released,” Rafael said. “We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defense and security forces.”
As evidenced by videos circulating on social media, prisoners coordinated a mass escape from the high-security facility. Some escapees sought refuge in nearby homes, while military and correctional officers initiated a swift response operation, successfully capturing at least 150 of the escapees. Notably, one escapee, still partially restrained with a handcuff, described his release from the prison’s disciplinary unit by fellow inmates in a video statement.
This incident is part of a larger discord arising from the disputed election results. As reported Tuesday, at least 21 individuals, including two police officers, have lost their lives in post-election violence. Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda attributed the unrest primarily to young supporters of opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane, who garnered 24 percent of the votes as opposed to the ruling Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo’s 65 percent.
“The announcement of the election results sparked the recent violence and looting,” Ronda stated during a press conference in Maputo. He noted that tensions had been escalating across the country prior to the Constitutional Council’s ruling, with protests erupting immediately following the announcement.
Rafael urged the escaped inmates to turn themselves in voluntarily and called for the public to stay alert and provide any information about the escapees.
The jailbreak and ensuing violence underscore the precarious political and social conditions in Mozambique. International observers and rights groups have urged for dialogue and transparency to address the root causes of the unrest. Meanwhile, residents are worried about their safety in the wake of the massive escape.
“We are scared for our safety,” a Maputo resident, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed. “The government needs to act quickly to capture these dangerous individuals.”
As the crisis persists, the Mozambican government is under increasing pressure to restore order while also addressing the broader political issues fueling the unrest.