Mozambique: massive jailbreak sees 1,500 inmates escape amid post-election violence

Over 1,500 inmates escaped during a riot in the high-security Machava prison near in Mozambique’s capital Maputo that left 33 people dead and 15 injured on Wednesday (25 December), according to police general commander Bernardino Rafael.
About 1,534 people escaped during the massive prison break, of whom about one tenth have since been recaptured. The escape occurred amidst escalating post-election unrest following the Constitutional Council’s confirmation of Daniel Chapo’s election win. Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who reportedly received 24% of the votes, rejected the election results as rigged and called for more protests across the country. The escape started when protestors stormed the compound, which led to violent clashes between the fugitives, prison staff, and police, resulting in 33 deaths and 15 injuries.
Machava prison houses high-risk inmates, including jihadists associated with armed groups operating in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s northernmost province. At least 30 jihadists are reported to be among the escapees, including one individual classified as “highly dangerous,” raising security concerns. Protesters also stormed several other prisons elsewhere in the country, with dozens more inmates escaping. The post-election unrest in Mozambique also effects neighboring countries. Zimbabweans living in border regions near Mozambique are reported to be gripped by fear as violent protests continue to escalate across the border, prompting Zimbabwean authorities to closely monitor the situation. The escalating tensions also prompted South Africa to close its Mozambique border.