On 1–2 September 2024, an attempted jailbreak at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo[1] resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people[2] and more than 59 other injuries.[3] A prison official said that no inmates escaped,[4] but inmates and human rights groups said that there were around 2,000 fewer prisoners in the facility immediately after the incident. Part of the prison was set on fire.
| Date | 1–2 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Makala Central Prison, Selembao, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Coordinates | 4°21′45″S 15°17′9″E / 4.36250°S 15.28583°E |
| Type | Failed jailbreak |
| Perpetrator | Prison inmates |
| Participants | 200+ |
| Outcome | At least 129 deaths |
| Deaths | 129-200+ |
| Non-fatal injuries | 59+ |
Background
editMakala Central Prison, the biggest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has capacity for 1,500 prisoners[5] and holds both male and female prisoners.[6] However, it is highly overcrowded, housing between 14,000 and 15,000 inmates.[7] In 2020, it was estimated that more than 90% of the people held at the prison were awaiting trial,[8] and only 6% were actually serving sentences.[2]
Jailbreaks are common in the DRC.[7] In 2017, another prison break occurred at Makala prison, which led to more than 4,000 prisoners escaping.[5]
Attempted jailbreak
editLocal residents and inmates reported that gunfire inside the prison started on 1 September in Block 4 following a power outage inside the facility that started at 21:00[9] and lasted into the morning of 2 September. Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani said that 24 inmates were fatally shot by guards as they tried to escape, and that there were cases of women being raped.[10] Authorities said that 129 people were killed, some by gunfire and others in a stampede.[10] However, Emmanuel Adu Cole, a prison rights activist, said that the death toll was more than 200.[11] Authorities denied that any inmates successfully escaped, but inmates and prisoners' rights groups said that roll calls found that the number of prisoners in Makala was reduced by nearly 2,000 following the incident.[9]
Multiple buildings in the prison sustained extensive damage,[7] including a part of the prison which the government said was set on fire.[5] The prison's administrative building, food depots, and hospital were damaged by the fires,[4] while its archives were destroyed.[9]
Aftermath and reactions
editFamilies of the victims called for more responsibility, clarity, and answers from the government regarding the conditions that led to the incident,[12] as did human rights groups.[13] Several inmates involved in the incident were subsequently tried in military courts.[9]
The Congolese government urged judges to stop sending people to Makala as a stopgap, but the prison remained open.[14] However, no visitors have been allowed in as of 4 September.[15]
Deputy Prime Minister for Interior and Security Jacquemain Shabani said that a special commission has been set up to continue investigating "deplorable and unfortunate events".[16] Justice Minister Constant Mutamba called the attempted jailbreak a "premeditated act of sabotage".[10] Government officials said that provisional measures to accelerate the construction of a new prison on the capital's outskirts were underway.[17] The prison's director, Joseph Yusufu Maliki, was suspended by Mutamba and went into hiding.[9]
The Delegation of the European Union to the Democratic Republic of Congo on 4 September called on Congolese authorities "to quickly shed light on these tragic events in order to establish the various responsibilities, including with regard to respect for human rights and the rule of law."[13]
On 21 September, 600 inmates, including ten minors, were released from Makala as part of efforts to decongest the facility,[18] while 1,700 inmates suffering from illness were released on 23 September.[19]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (2 September 2024). "An attempted jailbreak in Congo's main prison in Kinshasa leaves 2 inmates dead". AP News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b Makumeno, Emery (3 September 2024). "More than 100 killed in failed DR Congo jailbreak". BBC. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Mureithi, Carlos (3 September 2024). "More than 100 killed in attempt to escape DRC's largest prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b "DR Congo: 129 killed in attempted prison break". Deutsche Welle. 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "At least 129 dead in DR Congo jailbreak attempt". France24. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (3 September 2024). "Attempted jailbreak at a Congo prison kills 129 people as chaos erupts with a stampede and gunshots". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Kennedy, Niamh; Princewill, Nimi (3 September 2024). "At least 129 killed during mass prison break attempt in DR Congo". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Godfrey, Paul (3 September 2024). "129 killed, 59 injured in abortive mass prison break in Democratic Republic of Congo". United Press International. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Gunfire, gang rapes and missing inmates: Inside a deadly DRC jailbreak". Al Jazeera. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Kamale, Jean-Yves (3 September 2024). "Attempted jailbreak at a Congo prison kills 129 people as chaos erupts with a stampede and gunshots". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (5 September 2024). "Questions swirl around attempted jailbreak in Congo as families of victims demand accountability". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Associated Press (4 September 2024), Questions swirl around attempted jailbreak in Congo as families of victims demand accountability, Kinshasa: Newsday, archived from the original on 4 September 2024, retrieved 5 September 2024
- ^ a b Natalie Venegas (4 September 2024), "Pressure Builds for Investigation Into Jailbreak That Left 129 Dead", newsweek.com, Newsweek, archived from the original on 5 September 2024, retrieved 5 September 2024
- ^ Emmet Livingston (4 September 2024), Breakout at Democratic Republic of Congo jail draws attention to horrific conditions, Kinshasa: NPR, archived from the original on 5 September 2024, retrieved 5 September 2024
- ^ "RDC: indignations et inquiétudes après les événements meurtriers de la prison de Makala", msn.com (in French), RFI via MSN, 4 September 2024
- ^ Patrick Ilunga (4 September 2024), Prison break deaths reveal congestion problem in Congolese jails, Kinshasa: Nation Media Group, archived from the original on 5 September 2024, retrieved 5 September 2024
- ^ Emma Burns (4 September 2024), DRC justice minister announces 129 killed while attempting to escape Makala Central Prison, U. Auckland Law School
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Congo frees 600 inmates at main prison in a bid to ease overcrowding". Associated Press. 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Thousands of ill inmates released from Congo's main prison to ease overcrowding". Associated Press. 24 September 2024.