An attempted jailbreak at Congo’s main prison in the capital, Kinshasa, resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people, most of whom died in a stampede, authorities reported on Tuesday.
The provisional assessment, announced by Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani on the social platform X, revealed that 24 inmates were shot dead by “warning” gunfire as they attempted to escape from the overcrowded Makala Central Prison early Monday.
Shabani also reported that 59 people were injured and are receiving care from the government, and there were also reports of women being raped during the incident. He confirmed that order has since been restored at the prison, part of which was set ablaze during the attack.
Prison Overcrowding
Makala, Congo’s largest prison, has a capacity for 1,500 inmates but currently holds over 12,000, most of whom are awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International. The facility has a history of jailbreaks, including a significant incident in 2017 when a religious sect’s attack freed dozens of inmates.
Residents reported that gunfire erupted inside the prison around midnight from Sunday into Monday morning. Initially, a senior government official reported only two deaths, a figure that rights activists quickly disputed.
Videos that appear to have been taken inside the prison showed bodies lying on the ground, many with visible injuries. Another video showed inmates carrying what seemed to be deceased individuals into a vehicle.
No Signs of Forced Entry
Despite the chaos, there were no indications of forced entry into the prison, which is located just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the presidential palace in the city center. Deputy Justice Minister Mbemba Kabuya told local Top Congo FM radio that the attempted escape was orchestrated by inmates in one of the prison wings.
Following the incident, authorities cordoned off the road to the prison and convened a panel to investigate the matter.
Makala, like many other prisons in Congo, is severely overcrowded, with activists noting that inmates often die from starvation. In response to these conditions, scores of inmates have been released this year as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba condemned the incident as a “premeditated act of sabotage” and warned that those responsible would face severe consequences. He also announced a ban on transferring inmates from the prison and unveiled plans to build a new facility as part of broader efforts to address the overcrowding crisis.