A failed jailbreak at Congo’s overcrowded Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa resulted in the deaths of 129 people, mostly due to a stampede, according to authorities. The incident occurred early Monday morning, with gunfire reported by residents. Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani revealed that 24 inmates were shot dead during the escape attempt, while the majority of fatalities occurred in the ensuing chaos.
The prison, which has a capacity of 1,500 but houses over 12,000 inmates, has been a site of previous escape attempts. Amnesty International has documented severe overcrowding and deplorable conditions at Makala, where many inmates await trial for years. The incident underscores the urgent need for reform in Congo’s prison system, which is plagued by starvation, poor sanitation, and frequent outbreaks of violence.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba condemned the attempted escape as a “premeditated act of sabotage” and announced plans to build a new prison to alleviate overcrowding. The government has initiated an investigation into the incident and imposed a temporary ban on transferring inmates to or from Makala. The tragic event has once again highlighted the dire conditions within Congo’s penal system.
Authorities are working to restore order, the Congolese government faces mounting pressure to address the root causes of these recurrent prison tragedies. The incident has sparked renewed calls for justice and human rights organizations to focus on improving conditions and reducing inmate populations in Congo’s prisons.