The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported that at least 129 people lost their lives during a mass attempted prison break at the Makala prison in Kinshasa, the nation’s largest correctional facility.
Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani confirmed the grim toll in a video statement on Tuesday, revealing that 24 individuals were shot after ignoring warning shots. The violence left at least 59 others wounded.
The attempted breakout, which occurred over the weekend, resulted in a chaotic scene where several people were crushed or suffocated, and numerous women were reportedly raped, according to the ministry.
Despite the chaos, no prisoners successfully escaped, according to a prison official. However, significant damage was inflicted on the prison, with administrative and food-storage buildings destroyed by fire.
Eyewitnesses reported that gunfire erupted around 2:00 AM on Monday and continued for several hours. Daddi Soso, a Kinshasa resident in his 40s, described seeing security force vehicles removing bodies in the early hours of the morning.
While the government did not disclose the exact number of inmates who attempted to escape, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya assured the public on national television that the situation was “under control” by mid-morning on Monday.
