Civil unrest grips Mozambique as prison riot claims 33 lives

A prison riot in Mozambique’s capital Maputo resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injuries, according to police commander Bernardino Rafael. The riot, which occurred amid ongoing civil unrest following the disputed October election, was initially blamed on protests outside the prison. However, Justice Minister Helena Kida stated that the unrest started inside the prison and was unrelated to external demonstrations. In total, 1,534 inmates escaped during the incident, with 150 recaptured so far. Additionally, there were prison break attempts at two other facilities, raising concerns about a potential increase in crime in the coming days. The identities of the victims remain unclear. Prior to this incident, at least 21 people were killed in post-election protests, with a monitoring group reporting a total of 130 deaths in clashes with police since the unrest began. The unrest was sparked by Mozambique’s top court affirming the victory of the ruling party Frelimo, with opposition groups and supporters alleging electoral fraud. The situation in Mozambique remains tense and volatile, with continued protests and violence threatening the stability of the country.

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