1,500 Kakap Class Prisoners Escape From Maximum Security Prison In Mozambique

JAKARTA - Following the unrest sparked by the announcement of the final results of the Mozambique presidential election, there was an incident of mass escape in a maximum-security prison near the Mozambique capital, Maputo.

Earlier on Monday, December 23, the Mozambique Constitutional Council confirmed the results of the October general election, which determined the victory of the candidate from the ruling party, FRELIMO, Daniel Chapo. The announcement sparked riots in various regions of the country.

"We confirmed this escape, but our team is still on the ground to determine the exact number and other details," said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Justino Tonela, to the local news agency, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, December 26.

On the same day, Agence France-Presse reported that, according to Police Commander-General Bernardino Rafael, 1,534 inmates escaped in the incident.Rafael also mentioned that 33 inmates were killed and 15 others injured during the escape.

Police managed to arrest about 150 escaped inmates, added Rafael.

Maputo's Maximum Security Prison, located about 14 kilometers from the capital, houses more than 3,000 inmates most of whom were convicted of violent crimes, especially murder, according to Mozambique's Ministry of Justice.

The general election in Mozambique was held on October 9, with preliminary results showing Chapo taking the lead in the presidential election.

Independent candidate Venancio Mondlane voiced his disapproval of the interim results and called for widespread civil disobedience.