At least 129 dead in attempted escape from Kinshasa prison

At least 129 people died, including at least 24 shot dead, in the escape attempt that occurred during the night of Sunday 1 to Monday 2 September in Makala prison, the largest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Kinshasa, the Minister of the Interior said on Tuesday 3 September.

From 2:00 a.m. on Sunday night to Monday night, gunshots rang out for several hours, according to several witnesses living in the Makala prison area interviewed by AFP. No details have been released on the number of inmates who tried to escape, or the circumstances. But mid-morning Monday, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya assured on national television that the situation was “under control”.

Back to calm

“The provisional human toll stands at 129 dead, including 24 by gunfire after warning”and others by “shoving” or “suffocation,” Jacquemain Shabani said in a video statement sent to the press. The minister also mentioned “a few women raped.” And finally reported 59 injured. The latter are being taken care of by the government.

In a publication on X, the Minister of the Interior adds that the “Administrative buildings, the registry, the infirmary, and the food depots were destroyed by fires”. “The Government is satisfied with the return to calm, deplores these tragic events, and presents its condolences to the families of the victims. Investigations are continuing, and the public will be informed.”he concluded.

Investigations in progress

The Justice Minister said Monday that investigations are underway. “to identify and severely punish the sponsors of these acts of sabotage”.

Makala prison, with a capacity of 1,500 but severely overcrowded, houses between 14,000 and 15,000 prisoners, according to official statistics. In 2017, a night attack by armed men led to the escape of more than 4,000 prisoners.