Tragedy hits Makala Central Prison: 129 dead in escape attempt

As informed by the government of Congo, 129 people died as a result of an escape attempt from the country's largest prison in Kinshasa. The escape attempt took place around 1:00 AM Monday Greenwich Time. Witnesses told Reuters that they heard gunshots as well as the sounds of prisoners outside.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that at least 129 people died during the escape attempt at the Makala Central Prison in the capital, Kinshasa, on Monday morning, adding that the situation is now under control.

In a statement published on Tuesday on the platform X, Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo reported that a fire also broke out in the prison's administrative building, food storage warehouses, and hospital. He added that about 59 people were injured.

Mass escape attempt at the Makala Central Prison ended with fatalities and significant material damage, announced in a video statement.

Earlier, a prison official said that no prisoners managed to escape and added that those who tried to escape were killed.

The escape attempt took place around 1:00 AM Monday Greenwich Time (September 1). Witnesses told Reuters that they heard heavy gunfire as well as the sounds of prisoners outside.

It is worth noting that this is another escape attempt from this prison. In 2017, after a nighttime attack by armed men, more than 4,000 prisoners escaped from the facility.

According to official data, the Makala prison currently holds about 14,000 to 15,000 prisoners. Authorities have tried to reduce overcrowding, releasing dozens of prisoners recently.

Constant Mutamba from the Congo government said on platform X that an investigation is underway to identify and severely punish the organisers of these acts of sabotage.