2024 Makala prison jailbreak attempt
| Date | September 2, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Makala Central Prison |
| Coordinates | 4°21′45″S 15°17′9″E / 4.36250°S 15.28583°E |
| Type | Failed jailbreak |
| Perpetrator | Prison inmates |
| Participants | 188+ |
| Outcome | At least 129 deaths |
| Deaths | 129+ |
| Non-fatal injuries | 59+ |
On September 2, 2024, an attempted jailbreak at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo,[1] resulted in the deaths of 129 people[2] and more than 59 others being injured.[3] A prison official said that no inmates escaped.[4]
Background
[edit]Makala 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, Makala prison 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
[edit]Local residents reported that gunfire inside the prison started on September 1 and lasted into the morning of September 2. 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. Authorities have reported 129 people dead, some of whom died by gunfire, others in a stampede.[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]
References
[edit]- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (September 2, 2024). "An attempted jailbreak in Congo's main prison in Kinshasa leaves 2 inmates dead". AP News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Makumeno, Emery (September 3, 2024). "More than 100 killed in failed DR Congo jailbreak". BBC. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Mureithi, Carlos (September 3, 2024). "More than 100 killed in attempt to escape DRC's largest prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "DR Congo: 129 killed in attempted prison break". Deutsche Welle. September 3, 2024. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c "At least 129 dead in DR Congo jailbreak attempt". France24. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (September 3, 2024). "Attempted jailbreak at a Congo prison kills 129 people as chaos erupts with a stampede and gunshots". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c Kennedy, Niamh; Princewill, Nimi (September 3, 2024). "At least 129 killed during mass prison break attempt in DR Congo". CNN. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Godfrey, Paul (September 3, 2024). "129 killed, 59 injured in abortive mass prison break in Democratic Republic of Congo". United Press International. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (September 3, 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 September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
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