On Wednesday, more than 1,500 inmates escaped from a prison in Maputo, taking advantage of ongoing unrest that began following the controversial confirmation of the long-established Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections. The National Police Chief, Bernardino Rafael, announced in a press conference that 1,534 inmates broke free from the high-security facility located approximately 15 kilometers from the capital. He noted that 33 escapees were killed and 15 were injured during confrontations with prison staff. Additionally, he reported that a search operation, supported by the military, resulted in the capture of around 150 fugitives. “About 30 of the escapees have ties to armed groups responsible for unrest and attacks in Cabo Delgado province over the past seven years. We are especially worried about this situation,” Rafael remarked. On Monday, the highest court in the Portuguese-speaking African nation confirmed that Frelimo, in power since 1975, won the presidential election held on October 9, which had already led to weeks of turmoil. Frelimo secured 65.17 percent of the votes, roughly five points lower than the preliminary results released by the electoral commission.
