Mass Breakout Attempt at DRC’s Makala Prison Leaves Over 120 Dead

More than 120 individuals lost their lives during a mass breakout attempt at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, early Monday morning. According to Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, the death toll includes 24 fatalities from gunfire, with others succumbing to suffocation, jostling, and assaults, including reported rapes. Around 59 people were injured and receiving medical attention.

Eyewitness accounts described prolonged gunfire, and graphic videos circulating on social media depicted numerous bodies at the scene. The prison suffered extensive damage, with significant destruction reported in multiple facilities, including offices and food depots, due to fires during the chaos.

Bihango convened a crisis meeting with security officials, confirming that calm has been restored. The government is investigating the incident, which Justice Minister Constant Mutamba labeled a “premeditated act of sabotage.” He has also halted the transfer of inmates to Makala prison to address overcrowding, as the facility was designed for only 1,500 inmates but housed over 12,000.

Prison breaks are frequent in the DRC, with past incidents highlighting the severe conditions and security challenges in the country’s correctional facilities.