A violent prison break attempt over the weekend at Makala prison in Kinshasa, the largest jail in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resulted in at least 129 deaths, according to Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani.
The minister reported that 24 individuals were shot after warnings were issued, while at least 59 others were injured. The toll also includes deaths from crushing and suffocation, and several women were reportedly raped during the chaos.
Witnesses, including local electrician Daddi Soso, observed security forces removing bodies from the scene in the early hours of the morning.
While the exact number of escaped or attempted escapees remains unclear, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya assured on national television that the situation was “under control” by mid-morning Monday.
The incident has raised serious concerns about prison security and the broader state of law and order in the country.
