Mozambique prison riot leads to nearly 3 dozen deaths, more than 1,500 escapes

Dec 26, 2024

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer ), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

Authorities say a prison riot in Mozambique’s capital on Wednesday, Dec. 25, killed at least 33 people and left at least 15 other individuals injured. The riot comes as violence continues to rise following October’s disputed election.

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Mozambique’s top court confirmed the victory of long-ruling party Frelimo in the election on Tuesday, Dec. 24, which ignited new nationwide protests by demonstrators who say the election results were rigged.

The country’s police blame the protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot and eventual prison break.

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However, Mozambique’s justice minister disputed that notion, saying the incident began inside the prison and is unrelated to the protests.

The South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) reported the prisoners overpowered guards and stole AK-47s during the riot.

Officials say more than 1,500 prisoners escaped during the riots but 150 have since been caught. Authorities believe crime and violence will rise over the next two days as a result of the prison break.

Police also say there were two different prison break attempts at two other facilities on Wednesday.

The prison break follows civil unrest after the top court’s decision on Tuesday confirming the election results, which reportedly led to 21 people being killed, including two police officers.

Before Tuesday, a civil society monitoring group reported at least 130 people killed in clashes with police since the Oct. 9 election.

Tags: Africa, Crime, Election, Election security, Gang Violence, Gun violence, Police violence, Prison, Prisoners, Protests

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

AUTHORITIES SAY A PRISON RIOT IN MOZAMBIQUE’S CAPITAL WEDNESDAY KILLED AT LEAST 33 PEOPLE AND LEFT MORE THAN A DOZEN INJURED AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO RISE FOLLOWING OCTOBER’S DISPUTED ELECTION.

MOZAMBIQUE’S TOP COURT CONFIRMED THE VICTORY OF A LONG-RULING PARTY IN THE ELECTION TUESDAY, WHICH IGNITED NEW NATIONWIDE PROTESTS BY DEMONSTRATORS WHO SAY THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED.

MOZAMBIQUE POLICE BLAME PROTESTS OUTSIDE FOR ENCOURAGING THE PRISON VIOLENCE.

HOWEVER, THE COUNTRY’S JUSTICE MINISTER DISPUTED THAT NOTION.

SAYING THE INCIDENT BEGAN INSIDE THE PRISON AND IS NOT LINKED TO THE PROTESTS.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (SABC) REPORTS THE PRISONERS OVERPOWERED GUARDS AND STOLE AK-47’S DURING THE RIOT.

OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED PRISONERS ESCAPED DURING THE RIOTS BUT 150 HAVE SINCE BEEN CAUGHT.

NOTING, THEY BELIEVE CRIME AND VIOLENCE WILL RISE OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS BECAUSE OF THE PRISON BREAK.

POLICE SAY THERE WERE PRISON BREAK ATTEMPTS AT TWO OTHER FACILITIES AS WELL WEDNESDAY.

THE INCIDENT FOLLOWS CIVIL UNREST AFTER THE TOP COURT’S DECISION TUESDAY CONFIRMING THE ELECTION RESULTS, WHICH LED AT LEAST 21 PEOPLE BEING KILLED, INCLUDING TO POLICE OFFICERS.

BEFORE TUESDAY, AT LEAST 130 PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY KILLED IN CLASHES WITH POLICE SINCE THE OCTOBER 9TH ELECTION.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.