Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have disclosed that 129 people lost their lives during an attempted prison break at Makala Prison in Kinshasa. The incident took place early Monday morning, with gunfire reported by residents between 2:00 am and 5:00 am (WAT).
Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani stated that 24 inmates were shot after warning shots were fired, while the majority of the deaths resulted from suffocation during the chaotic breakout attempt. Several women were reportedly raped, and 59 others sustained injuries.
Makala Prison, designed to hold 1,500 inmates, was severely overcrowded, housing more than 14,000 prisoners at the time of the incident. Initial reports from the government had suggested only two fatalities, but graphic videos emerged later to show the true scale of the disaster. The authorities have not disclosed the number of escapees but have said that the situation is now under control.
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