In a horrific incident at Makala prison, the largest detention facility in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), at least 129 individuals died as a result of a desperate attempt to escape from prison. The violent escape attempt took place on Monday morning and has sparked widespread concern over conditions and security within the prison system. Escape attempt The tragic events began in the early hours of the morning when inmates made a coordinated attempt to escape the high-security prison. According to Interior Minister Shabani Luku, the situation quickly degenerated into chaos. 24 people died of gunshot wounds as a result of warning shots fired by prison guards, while the majority of casualties – 105 – were caused by suffocation caused by inmates as they rushed to escape. Witnesses living near the prison reported that gunfire began to be heard at around 1:00 am and continued intermittently until around 5:00 am. The cries of distress and the aftermath of the violence were clearly visible, with local residents describing scenes of horror and confusion. Nearby resident Daddy Sosso recalled the gravity of the situation, saying that “there were some deaths and some people fled,” while security forces were attempting to handle the crisis.
Initial Government Response Despite the horrific scale of the incident, initial reports from the government significantly underestimated the severity of the situation, initially claiming only two deaths. Later, the true extent of the tragedy only became clear after considerable pressure and the emergence of graphic videos and images from the scene. These videos, although not verified by independent sources, showed lifeless bodies and agonized cries for help amid the chaos.
Interior Minister Luku eventually confirmed the full scope of the disaster in a video statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). He acknowledged the large number of deaths and substantial material damage caused during the attempted coup. Luku praised the response of the national police and army for calming the unrest and preventing a mass escape.
Makala Prison Conditions Makala Prison, originally designed to hold 1,500 prisoners, is currently filled with over 14,000 inmates. This overcrowding, coupled with poor conditions, is a long-standing problem. Prisoners have previously reported terrible living conditions, including severe food shortages, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of basic medical care.
The prison has been the site of considerable unrest before. In 2017, nearly 4,000 prisoners escaped in a mass breakout that exposed systemic issues within DR Congo’s penal system. The recent attempt underscores the ongoing problems within the prison, including its capacity issues and the harsh conditions faced by prisoners.
Aftermath and response In the wake of the breakout, the situation at Makala Prison remains dire. Images and footage of the aftermath show extensive damage, including a large hole in the brick wall, burnt-out buildings, and offices devastated by fire. 5,000 / 5,000
Kinshasa, In a tragic incident at Makala prison, the largest detention facility in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), at least 129 individuals have died as a result of a desperate attempt to escape from the prison. The violent escape attempt took place on Monday morning and has sparked widespread concern about conditions and security within the prison system. Escape attempt The tragic events began in the early hours of the morning when inmates made a coordinated attempt to escape the high-security prison. According to Interior Minister Shabani Luku, the situation soon descended into chaos. 24 people were killed by gunshot wounds as a result of warning shots fired by prison guards, while the majority of the casualties – 105 – died of suffocation as prisoners tried to escape Local residents who clearly witnessed the cries of distress and the aftermath of the violence described scenes of horror and confusion. “There have been some deaths and some injured,” said Daddy Sosso, a nearby resident, recalling the gravity of the situation. People have fled,” while security forces were attempting to handle the crisis.
Initial government response
Despite the horrific scale of the incident, initial government reports greatly underestimated the severity of the situation, initially reporting only two deaths. It was only later, after considerable pressure and the emergence of graphic videos and images from the scene, that the true extent of the tragedy became clear. These videos, although not verified by independent sources, show lifeless bodies and desperate attempts to help amid the chaos. Anguished screams were also shown.