At least 129 dead in Democratic Republic of Congo during escape attempt from country’s largest prison

At least 129 people were killed, including 24 by gunshot, in an escape attempt that occurred on the night of Sunday 1 to Monday 2 September in the largest prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Kinshasa, according to a report released Tuesday by the Minister of the Interior, Jacquemain Shabani. The latter also reported 59 injured. “supported by the government for appropriate care”.

Makala prison, the largest in the central African country, is overcrowded. It houses ten times more inmates – between 14,000 and 15,000 – than its capacity of 1,500, according to official statistics. On Monday, around 2 a.m., gunshots rang out for long hours, according to several local residents interviewed by AFP.

According to the Minister of the Interior, who mentioned a “failed escape”many victims died “by jostling, suffocation”. He also mentioned “a few” case of “raped women”without giving details. The streets leading to the prison were sealed off and many police officers and soldiers were still present on Tuesday, AFP journalists noted. According to several witnesses, gunshots rang out again in the area on Tuesday morning.

No details have been released on how many detainees attempted to escape, or under what circumstances. The government spokesman would only say on Monday that “security services” were on site, before later assuring on national television that the situation was “under control”The Minister of Justice has for his part promised to find “the sponsors” of the operation.