Mozambique: Another inmate recaptured following December jailbreak during election protests

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Mozambique: Another inmate recaptured following December jailbreak during election protests

12:21 CAT | 22 Sep 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Notícias]

The National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) announced on Monday that it has recaptured another of the 1,500 inmates who escaped on December 25 from the maximum-security prison in Maputo during the country’s post-election protests.

According to SERNIC spokesperson in Maputo, João Adriano, the 33-year-old detainee was serving a 12-year sentence “for crimes of bodily harm resulting in death,” having already served seven years.

“We, as SERNIC, carried out the work and took the necessary steps that culminated in his capture,” João Adriano said at a press conference in Maputo.

He added that the next step is to “hand him over to the appropriate authorities so he can return to serving his sentence.”

João Adriano also stated that this is the third escapee from that maximum-security prison in Maputo to be recaptured by the SERNIC team, in addition to two others apprehended in January.

“Naturally, it’s not just SERNIC doing this work,” he said, without providing specific figures on the total number of inmates recaptured.

“Together with the country’s various security forces, we have already managed to recover about half of those who escaped,” said Mateus Saize, Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, on June 9.

About 2,000 inmates escaped from prisons across the country at the end of last year—actions that, according to the police and Mozambican authorities, were linked to the protesters.

The most serious prison break occurred in Maputo on December 25, when 1,534 inmates escaped following riots at the Maputo Special Penitentiary for Maximum Security and the Maputo Provincial Penitentiary, located approximately 14 kilometers from the centre of the Mozambican capital.

According to data from the Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR), at least 35 inmates died during the escape from the two prisons.

Mozambique experienced nearly five months of social unrest, with demonstrations initially protesting the October 9 election results, called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane. These events resulted in the deaths of around 400 people and widespread destruction.

The Mozambican government confirmed at least 80 deaths, in addition to the destruction of 1,677 commercial establishments, 177 schools, and 23 health units during the protests.

Political parties with seats in parliament and municipal and provincial assemblies signed a political commitment with President Daniel Chapo on March 5, aiming for state reforms, which was later enacted into law by parliament.

On March 23, Mondlane and Chapo met for the first time, committing to end the post-election violence. They met again on May 21 with a shared agenda to bring peace to the country.

Source: Lusa