Tension flares in Maputo following disputed election outcomes and violent clashes, leading to significant prison breaks and widespread unrest.
**Prison Break Amid Mozambique's Election Turmoil**
**Prison Break Amid Mozambique's Election Turmoil**
Over 1,500 inmates escape prison as protests against election results escalate in Mozambique.
In a shocking twist of events, over 1,500 prisoners have escaped from a high-security facility in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, as widespread protests and violence erupt due to contested election results. The turmoil began after the country's Supreme Court confirmed that the ruling Frelimo party had secured victory in the October presidential election, a decision met with public outcry and resistance.
During clashes on Wednesday, police chief Bernardino Rafael reported that 33 individuals had lost their lives, with around 15 others injured in confrontations with prison guards. Groups of frustrated anti-government protesters reportedly approached the prison, enabling inmates to leverage the chaos to escape by breaching a wall. Following the incident, authorities have managed to recapture approximately 150 of the escaped individuals.
The unrest throughout Mozambique has intensified following the Electoral Management Commission's announcement of results that saw Frelimo's candidate for president, Daniel Chapo, declared the winner. The court later revised Chapo's winning margin from an initial 71% to 65%, with his principal rival Venâncio Mondlane securing 24% instead of the previously reported 20%.
BBC reporters noted that Maputo resembled a ghost town over Christmas, with most businesses shuttered and citizens opting to remain indoors amidst fears of violence. Since the beginning of the protests, criminal activities have surged, with vandalism, looting, and arson plaguing Frelimo offices, police stations, and local businesses across the nation.
The interior minister confirmed an alarming toll of at least 21 fatalities linked to the unrest since the latest protests commenced, totaling around 150 lives lost during the ongoing three-month period of civil discontent. Mondlane, who has since fled the country, urged his supporters to assemble and voice their grievances against what they perceive as electoral fraud, suggesting a possibility for a "new popular uprising" should the election results remain unchanged.
During clashes on Wednesday, police chief Bernardino Rafael reported that 33 individuals had lost their lives, with around 15 others injured in confrontations with prison guards. Groups of frustrated anti-government protesters reportedly approached the prison, enabling inmates to leverage the chaos to escape by breaching a wall. Following the incident, authorities have managed to recapture approximately 150 of the escaped individuals.
The unrest throughout Mozambique has intensified following the Electoral Management Commission's announcement of results that saw Frelimo's candidate for president, Daniel Chapo, declared the winner. The court later revised Chapo's winning margin from an initial 71% to 65%, with his principal rival Venâncio Mondlane securing 24% instead of the previously reported 20%.
BBC reporters noted that Maputo resembled a ghost town over Christmas, with most businesses shuttered and citizens opting to remain indoors amidst fears of violence. Since the beginning of the protests, criminal activities have surged, with vandalism, looting, and arson plaguing Frelimo offices, police stations, and local businesses across the nation.
The interior minister confirmed an alarming toll of at least 21 fatalities linked to the unrest since the latest protests commenced, totaling around 150 lives lost during the ongoing three-month period of civil discontent. Mondlane, who has since fled the country, urged his supporters to assemble and voice their grievances against what they perceive as electoral fraud, suggesting a possibility for a "new popular uprising" should the election results remain unchanged.
