More than 100 killed in failed DR Congo jailbreak
An attempted escape by inmates from a high-security prison in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in the deaths of 129 people, according to authorities.
Interior Minister Shabani Lukoo reported that 24 prisoners were killed by gunfire after warning shots were fired early Monday morning. The majority of the other deaths were caused by suffocation during a crush at Makala Prison.
Although initial government reports indicated that only two people had died, the true extent of the casualties became clear later in the day.
This incident follows a previous mass escape from the same prison seven years ago when at least 4,000 inmates broke out.
Residents near the prison reported hearing gunshots from around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. until about 5:00 a.m. Attempts by journalists to access the scene were blocked by police.
Daddi Soso, a resident, described witnessing the aftermath, saying there were both deaths and escapes, with security forces removing bodies.
Unverified graphic videos shared online depicted lifeless bodies and people calling for help amid the chaos inside the prison.
Mr Lukoo posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, around 24 hours after the attempted breakout, acknowledging the extent of the incident and the death toll.
“This is also an opportunity to commend all the security services, the national police, and the army, who responded quickly and were able to contain the situation, preventing the escape,” he said.
“It should be noted that there were indeed damages, including loss of life, injuries, and especially material damage at the central prison.
“Unfortunately, the administration and registry offices caught fire. These are urgent situations that we are currently addressing.”
Footage from the aftermath of the attempted breakout appears to show a huge hole in a brick wall, charred buildings, firemen working at the site, and an office with papers strewn across the floor.
Makala Prison has a capacity of 1,500 prisoners, but more than 14,000 inmates are being held there, AFP reports.
In 2020, the BBC spoke to a prison official who described how people were dying there because of the poor conditions – including food shortages and a lack of hygiene.
At the time it was estimated that only 6% of the prisoners were serving sentences – the rest were stuck in DR Congo’s legal system where cases can drag on for years.
