33 Dead in Mozambique Prison Riot on Christmas Day

A riot at a prison in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, on Christmas Day resulted in 33 fatalities and 15 injuries, according to Police General Commander Bernardino Rafael. The incident occurred amid ongoing civil unrest following October’s disputed election.

• Details of the Incident:
  The riot led to a mass prison break, with 1,534 inmates escaping. Authorities have since recaptured 150 of them. Police reported similar attempted breakouts at two other prisons.

• Conflicting Accounts:
  While police blamed external protests for inciting the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida stated that the unrest originated inside the prison and was unrelated to the demonstrations.

• Election-Related Unrest:
  Protests erupted nationwide after Mozambique’s top court confirmed the long-ruling Frelimo party’s election victory. Opposition groups have alleged election rigging.

• Concerns Over Rising Crime:
  Rafael warned of a potential increase in criminal activity in the coming days, following the prison escape.

• Broader Civil Unrest:
  Mozambique has seen escalating violence since October. At least 130 people have died in clashes with police, according to monitoring group Plataforma Decide.

The situation highlights growing tensions in the country as authorities struggle to manage civil unrest and maintain security.