At least 129 people lost their lives during an attempted jailbreak at Makala prison, the largest detention facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in the capital city of Kinshasa.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, September 2nd, 2024, as inmates tried to flee the overcrowded prison, which was originally built to house 1,500 prisoners but currently holds between 14,000 and 15,000 detainees.
According to Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, the DRC's Interior Minister, 24 of the deceased were killed by gunfire, while the remaining victims perished in the ensuing chaos and crush.
Additionally, 59 individuals sustained injuries. The situation escalated further when a fire broke out, destroying several key facilities within the prison, including administrative buildings, the registry, the hospital, and food depots.
The government has launched an investigation into the incident, with authorities working to identify and punish those responsible for what has been described as acts of sabotage.
A crisis meeting involving heads of defense and security services has been convened to address the situation.
This is not the first time Makala prison has experienced such turmoil. In 2017, more than 4,000 inmates escaped following an armed attack, resulting in over 80 deaths. Efforts to reduce overcrowding have been ongoing, with dozens of inmates released in recent months.
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