An attempted prison break at Makala Central Prison, the biggest penitentiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo located in Kinshasa, led to the deaths of 129 individuals in the early hours of Monday, September 2, 2024, according to official statements. This incident underscored the severe overcrowding and harsh conditions in the prison, which accommodates over 12,000 inmates, despite being designed to hold only 1,500.
The upheaval started around midnight Sunday when shots were fired within the prison walls, the sound reverberating through the nearby residential area. Stéphane Matondo, a resident living close to the prison, said, “Shots were ringing out everywhere.” Military vehicles were swiftly dispatched to the location, and the main thoroughfare to the prison was cordoned off.
As reported by the Congolese Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, 24 inmates were killed by guards who fired warning shots to stop the prisoners from escaping. The rest of the reported deaths were due to a stampede inside the overcrowded facility, which was partially set on fire. Additionally, Shabani confirmed that 59 inmates were injured and taken into government care. He also acknowledged reports of sexual assault on women, but did not provide detailed information.
Although the official death toll stands at 129, some activists argue the actual number could be substantially higher. Emmanuel Adu Cole, a leading prison rights advocate in Congo and president of the Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, suggested the death toll exceeds 200. Cole’s claim is based on videos and eyewitness accounts from the prison, but these sources have yet to be independently corroborated.
Makala Central Prison has a notorious history of violence and turmoil, including a 2017 episode in which a religious sect overran the facility, resulting in the escape of dozens of prisoners. The facility’s overcrowded and unsanitary conditions have been a constant source of mounting tension among the inmates, the majority of whom are still awaiting trial. Activists say the lack of food and water sometimes leaves prisoners starving to death.
In the aftermath of the incident, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba described the attempted jailbreak as a deliberate act of sabotage and vowed a stringent response. His deputy, Samuel Mbemba Kabuya, blamed the judiciary for the overcrowding, arguing that the practice of detaining individuals early in their trials has aggravated the harsh conditions at Makala.
The government has pledged to address the overcrowding issue by constructing a new prison and halting the transfer of additional inmates to Makala. However, human rights activists remain doubtful, referring to the long-standing neglect and mistreatment within Congo’s penal system.