129 Dead in Attempted Jailbreak at Makala Central Prison, DRC

Tragic Attempted Jailbreak at Makala Central Prison Claims 129 Lives

In a harrowing incident at the Makala Central Prison, the largest correctional facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 129 individuals lost their lives during a chaotic attempted jailbreak. This tragic event, which unfolded early on Monday, underscores the ongoing crises faced by a prison system long criticized for its inhumane conditions, as highlighted by various human rights organizations.

The Interior Minister of Congo, Jacquemain Shabani, reported that a stampede was responsible for the majority of the fatalities. He indicated that at least 24 inmates were shot dead while attempting to escape, with 59 others suffering injuries. Disturbingly, he also noted that there were “some cases of women raped,” although he did not divulge further details regarding these incidents.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the situation remained unclear, with no confirmed reports of any inmates successfully escaping the facility.

Overcrowding and Human Rights Concerns

Makala Central Prison, the sole prison serving Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo and one of Africa’s most densely populated cities, is facing dire overcrowding issues. Designed to accommodate only 1,500 inmates, it currently houses over 12,000 individuals, as indicated in a report from Amnesty International published in October 2023.

This violent outbreak occurred while President Felix Tshisekedi was in Beijing attending a forum focused on China-Africa cooperation, further complicating the challenges facing the nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo, with a population exceeding 100 million, is grappling with numerous crises, including a deadly outbreak of mpox and a protracted conflict in its eastern regions that has resulted in over six million deaths and millions more displaced over the past three decades.

Eyewitness Accounts and Social Media Footage

Reports from local news sources and social media revealed that the chaos erupted amid gunfire within the prison on Monday night. A prominent Congolese journalist, Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, who was imprisoned at Makala last year but has since been released, shared a disturbing video capturing the frantic scene as inmates fled under gunfire. In another clip shared by him, filmed during the night, several inmates were seen gathered around what appeared to be a lifeless body within the prison grounds.

Numerous videos, authenticated by The New York Times as having been recorded inside the prison complex, depicted the aftermath of this attempted jailbreak, showcasing the alarming conditions and the desperate situation faced by the inmates.