September 3rd 2024.
Breaking News: Deadly Stampede at Congo Prison Leaves Over 100 Dead
A horrifying incident occurred at the Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, early Monday morning. Attempting to escape from the overcrowded facility, 24 inmates were shot and killed by "warning" gunshots. The Congolese interior minister, Jacquemin Shabani, confirmed that at least 129 people lost their lives in the stampede that followed.
According to reports, the prison, which has a capacity of 1,500 people, currently holds over 12,000 inmates, making it severely overcrowded. Amnesty International has previously raised concerns about the conditions at Makala, which has experienced multiple escapes, including a major one in 2017 when a religious sect attacked the prison and freed dozens of inmates.
As chaos erupted in the prison, 59 people were injured, and there have been reports of women being raped. Videos from the scene show lifeless bodies scattered on the ground with visible injuries, while others show inmates carrying dead bodies to a vehicle. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with gunfire heard in the early hours of Monday morning.
Initially, a senior government official only confirmed two deaths, but this was soon disputed as more information emerged. It was later revealed that the attempted escape was orchestrated by inmates inside the prison's wing. Deputy justice minister Mbemba Kabuya informed Top Congo FM radio that the incident was premeditated.
Following the attack, the road to the prison was closed off, and authorities launched an investigation into the incident. Activists have long raised concerns about the dire conditions in Congolese prisons, where overcrowding often leads to starvation and other health issues. In an effort to alleviate the overcrowding, numerous inmates have been released this year.
The country's justice minister, Constant Mutamba, referred to the attack as a "premeditated act of sabotage" and vowed to take stern action against those responsible. He also announced a ban on the transfer of inmates from Makala and plans to build a new prison to address the issue of overcrowding. As the nation mourns the loss of life in this tragic event, authorities are taking steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
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