At least 129 people have been killed in an escape attempt carried out early Monday morning by an undetermined number of prisoners at Makala central prison, the largest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congo (DRC), located in Kinshasa, according to the Congolese government.
The provisional death toll is 129, 24 of them shot after being warned (by security forces), while the other victims died from being pushed or suffocated,” said Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo.
Attempted escape from prison in DR Congo
There were also 59 injured people who were taken care of by the government, as well as some cases of women being raped,” he said.
The government is pleased with the return of calm, deplores these tragic events and offers its condolences to the families of the victims. “I have called a crisis meeting with the heads of the defence and security services,” he added.
On Monday, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Mbemba Kabuya, had reported only two deaths, while confirming that the prison had not been attacked from outside.
“It is rather a rebellion movement that began precisely in Hall 4,” Kabuya said.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya had previously confirmed the attempted escape.
“The police were sent in very early to contain this movement in the middle of the night. There were many warning shots and, as I speak, I believe that the security forces are inside the Makala central prison compound to try to restore order,” he said.
The incident occurred at 2:00 a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) in the commune of Selembao, in southern Kinshasa, where, according to residents, gunshots could be heard throughout the night.
In 2017, Makala prison was the scene of a mass breakout in which around 4,500 inmates escaped following an attack carried out by followers of the Bundu Dia Kongo sect, with the aim of freeing their leader, Mwana Nsemi.
Makala prison, the largest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, faces a serious problem of overcrowding, housing more than 15,000 inmates in different wards, despite its maximum capacity being only 1,500 people.
(With information from EFE)
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2024-09-05 05:55:47
