A prison riot in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, left 33 dead and 15 injured, the country’s police commander general Bernardino Rafael said on Wednesday, as civil unrest linked to disputed October elections continues.
A Monday decision by Mozambique’s top court confirming the election victory of the long-ruling party, Frelimo, has sparked fresh protests across the country by opposition groups and their supporters who say the vote was flawed. rigged
While Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for fueling the unrest, Justice Minister Helena Kida told local private broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest began inside the prison and had nothing to do with the protests. outside.
“The subsequent clashes resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injuries in the vicinity of the prison,” Rafael said at a news conference.
The identities of the dead and injured were unclear.
About 1,534 people escaped from the prison in the incident, but 150 have been recaptured, Rafael said, adding that there were escape attempts at two other prisons.
“We are worried as a country, the Mozambicans and the security forces,” Rafael said. “We expect an increase in crime in the next 48 hours.”
Mozambique’s interior minister said Tuesday that at least 21 people died in unrest following the high court decision.
Before Tuesday, civil society monitoring group Decide Platform said at least 130 people had died in clashes with police since the unrest began.
