DRC: Deadly prison break attempt in Kinshasa leaves 129 dead

A failed prison break attempt at the central Makala prison in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, has resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people, according to authorities.

Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo stated, “The provisional toll is 129 dead, including 24 by gunfire, after warning,” following a fire that hit the prison’s administrative buildings, including the infirmary.

Lukoo reported 59 injuries and “significant material damage.” He announced a “crisis” meeting with defense and security services, but confirmed that calm had been restored.

Makala prison, the largest in the DRC, is severely overcrowded, housing between 14,000 and 15,000 detainees, despite its intended capacity of 1,500. Most prisoners are awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International.

This incident is not the first jailbreak attempt at Makala prison, which previously saw over 4,000 prisoners escape in 2017 after an armed attack.