More than 1,500 escape in Mozambique prison break amid election tensions

A prison riot in Mozambique's capital Maputo left 33 people dead and 15 injured, police general commander Bernardino Rafael said on Wednesday.

About 1,534 people escaped from the prison but 150 of them have now been recaptured, he said.

Groups of protesters had approached the penitentiary Wednesday, creating confusion and triggering unrest inside the prison, where inmates ended up knocking down a wall through which they escaped, Rafael explained. 

Around 30 of the prisoners were linked to armed groups that have been behind unrest and attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado for the past seven years. 

The prison break comes a day after at least 21 people were killed in unrest that erupted when Mozambique's top court on Monday confirmed the victory of the long-ruling Frelimo party's presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in disputed October elections.

The decision by the Portuguese-speaking country's Constitutional Council sparked fresh nationwide protests by opposition groups and their supporters, who say the vote was rigged.

At least 78 people have been arrested so far and security measures have been tightened across the country, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told public broadcaster TVM on Tuesday.

"The armed and defense force will increase its presence in critical and key points," he said.

Frelimo, in power since 1975, has been repeatedly accused by opponents and election observers of rigging votes.

It has denied those accusations.

Ronda said the unrest was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, behind Frelimo party candidate Chapo with 65%.

“From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said on Tuesday.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AP)