A jailbreak attempt at Congo’s largest prison, Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 129 individuals, primarily due to a stampede, as reported by authorities on Tuesday.
According to Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani, 24 inmates were shot in the early hours of Monday as they tried to escape from the severely overcrowded facility, which houses over 12,000 inmates despite its intended capacity of just 1,500. This prison mostly holds detainees awaiting trial, as noted by Amnesty International.
Additionally, Shabani mentioned that 59 people were injured and are receiving medical attention. Reports indicate that the tumultuous incident included incidents of sexual violence and parts of the prison caught fire.
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Shabani assured the public that order has been restored. However, the Makala facility has a tumultuous history, notably a violent attack in 2017 resulting in many inmates escaping.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire around midnight during the raid. Initially, a senior government official claimed only two deaths occurred, a statement that has been challenged by human rights activists. Graphic videos from the scene depicted bodies on the ground, some visibly injured, with other footage showing inmates transporting deceased individuals to a vehicle.
Authorities confirmed there was no forced entry into the prison, situated a mere 3 miles from the presidential palace. The attempted escape was reportedly organized by inmates from within the prison, as noted by Deputy Justice Minister Mbemba Kabuya during an interview with local Top Congo FM radio.
In the aftermath, the road leading to the prison was secured while an investigative panel was assembled. Overcrowding in Congolese prisons is a significant issue, with tragic reports of starvation-related deaths emerging. In light of the crisis, authorities have released numerous inmates this year to alleviate some of the congestion.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba labeled the incident as a “premeditated act of sabotage” and vowed that those responsible would face severe consequences. He also announced the suspension of inmate transfers from this prison and plans to construct a new facility to help mitigate overcrowding.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press