MORONI, Cameros: Authorities in the Comoros Islands are grappling with a significant prison break after 38 inmates escaped from an overcrowded jail in the capital city of Moroni.
The escape occurred early in the morning, catching officials off guard and exploiting lax security measures at the facility.
According to Soilihi Ali Said, head of the prison service, the escape took place before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, a Muslim celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Prosecutors attributed the escape to negligence on the part of security guards, emphasizing that no injuries were reported during the incident.
Public prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid indicated that the jailbreak was orchestrated by a detained soldier linked to a previous incident where a football fan was fatally shot by security forces during a World Cup qualifier last year at Malouzini football stadium in Moroni.
The soldier, believed to have masterminded the escape, remains at large along with the other fugitives. The investigation is underway.
Comoros, a country with a population of 870,000, has faced challenges related to overcrowded prisons and poor detention conditions. The Moroni prison, designed for 90 inmates, was housing more than 200 individuals at the time of the escape.
