Post-electoral: 322 Escaped inmates recaptured following riots in Maputo

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Post-electoral: 322 Escaped inmates recaptured following riots in Maputo

4:19 CAT | 02 Jan 2025

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

At least 322 inmates, out of a total of 1,534 who escaped a week ago following riots at two prisons in Maputo, have been recaptured, the National Penitentiary Service of Mozambique (Sernap) announced. The inmates fled from the Maximum Security Special Penitentiary and the Provincial Penitentiary of Maputo, located more than 14 kilometres from the centre of the Mozambican capital, around 1:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m. in Lisbon) on 25 December. They were recaptured as a result of joint operations between Sernap and the Defence and Security Forces, according to an official statement accessed today by Lusa.

“The escaped inmates were serving sentences for various crimes, including acts linked to terrorism, homicide, robbery, drug trafficking, and other serious offences, with sentences ranging from five to 25 years in prison. Among the fugitives are highly dangerous individuals,” the Sernap statement reads, which also includes information and images of the inmates.

“Sernap appeals to the public for cooperation by providing any information that might help in recapturing the inmates,” the statement adds.

On the same day as the riots, the General Commander of the Mozambican Police (PRM), Bernardino Rafael, stated that the events were a “premeditated” action orchestrated by post-election protesters who have been demonstrating against the results of the general elections since October.

“Making noise in their protests, demanding the release of prisoners serving their sentences there,” described Bernardino Rafael, explaining that this led to “agitation” inside the prison, causing a wall to collapse, which facilitated the escape despite “immediate confrontation” with prison guards. According to the authorities, at least 33 people died in the confrontation between guards and inmates.

On the same day, similar riots were reported at Manhiça Prison, in the northern part of Maputo province, where protesters freed prisoners, and at Mabalane Prison, where there was an attempted escape.

In a live broadcast on Facebook, Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate leading protests against the election results from abroad, rejected the claim that protesters were involved, accusing the authorities of deliberately allowing the inmates to escape to manipulate the public and divert societal focus.

“It was all deliberate. These are mass manipulation tactics, straight out of the Soviet secret services playbook (…) to make people stop talking about electoral fraud. They want to divert our focus,” Mondlane claimed, also accusing the authorities of “sacrificing” some of the inmates.

Since October, Mozambique has been grappling with a post-election crisis marked by protests and shutdowns that have escalated into violent clashes between police and protesters rejecting the results of the 9 October elections. According to civil society organisations monitoring the process, nearly 300 people have been killed, and more than 500 injured by gunfire.

On 23 December, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council proclaimed Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), as the winner of the presidential election with 65.17% of the vote, succeeding Filipe Nyusi. The Council also confirmed Frelimo’s victory, maintaining its parliamentary majority in the 9 October general elections.

This announcement intensified unrest across the country, with supporters of Venâncio Mondlane—who, according to the Constitutional Council, received only 24% of the vote—taking to the streets, erecting barricades, looting, and clashing with police. The police have resorted to gunfire to attempt to disperse the crowds.

Source: Lusa