By Emmanuel Nduka
On Christmas Day December 25, over 1,500 inmates escaped from the high-security Machava prison near Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, amid escalating post-election violence.
The prison break occurred after the Constitutional Council confirmed Daniel Chapo’s controversial election victory, where he secured 65% of the vote.
Heritage Times HT reports that Police chief Bernardino Rafael confirmed that 1,534 prisoners fled, with only 150 recaptured so far. The escape resulted in violent clashes between the inmates, prison staff, and police, leaving 33 dead and 15 injured.
Videos from the scene showed crowds rushing out of the prison, some armed with weapons taken from guards.
Among the escapees are several high-risk prisoners, including jihadists connected to armed groups in Cabo Delgado. At least 30 jihadists are among the fugitives, one of whom is considered “highly dangerous.” This raises significant security concerns for the country.
The violence following the election has already led to the deaths of 248 people in the past two months, according to the NGO Plataforma Decide.
The unrest is further compounded by regional tensions, as South Africa’s ruling ANC congratulated Chapo on his victory, while the U.S. expressed concerns about the transparency of the election. Critics have also highlighted South Africa’s subdued response to the mounting crisis in Mozambique.
