129 killed during mass jailbreak attempt in DR Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo's government said at least 129 people were killed while trying to escape from the central Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa early on Monday, adding that the situation was now under control.

In a statement posted on X early on Tuesday, interior minister Shabani Lukoo said a fire had also broken out in the jail's administrative building, its food depots and a hospital. Some 59 people were wounded, he added.

Prisoners tried to break out en masse from the Makala Central Prison at around 02:00 local time on Monday, Lukoo told reporters.

“The provisional human toll stands at 129 dead, including 24 by gunshot after warning. The others died by jostling, suffocation and some women were raped,” he said.

More than 12 000 inmates, mostly pre-trial detainees, were held in the Makala prison before the attempted jailbreak even though the facility could only contain 1 500 people, according to a recent report by Amnesty International, which highlighted the “appalling” detention conditions at the facility.

In a statement on X, the European Union called for “an independent and rapid investigation to shed light on these tragic events and establish responsibilities.”