Over a hundred inmates perish during tumultuous uprisings in Congolese prisons.
At midnight, echoing gunshots reverberate from Kongo's biggest prison, situate in Kinshasa. Upon dawn, 129 detainees meet their end, 24 reportedly slain by preemptive firearms discharge. The government declares a thwarted jailbreak attempt.
This version of events unfolds from the turbulent Makala Prison, the largest detention facility in Kongo. The city's head, Jacquemin Shabani, suggests 24 inmates fell prey to the repercussions of warning shots, spoken in an interview on the X platform. Their daring escape attempt from the densely crowded Makala prison failed, as reported by authorities.
Residents in the vicinity recalled midnight's piercing gunfire ordeal. The road leading to the prison was promptly barricaded by security forces, while government spokesman Patrick Muyaya sought to appeal the public to refrain from spreading panic. The power to restore tranquility and safeguard was entrusted to the law enforcement agents on location.
Video clips, allegedly captured within the prison premises, revealed scattered bodies on the floor. The Congolese Justice Minister, Constant Mutamba, labelled the incident a deliberate act of sabotage and hinted that the perpetrators could be subjected to even longer sentences.
The Makala Prison is famous as the Congo's largest prison camp, noted for its heightened security. The grim tales of overcrowding and dire living conditions for detainees unfold within its confines. Originally designed to accommodate 1,500 inmates, the facility now houses over 12,000 people, a great number yet to undergo trial. In 2017, a religious sect orchestrated an attack, leading to the liberation of numerous inmates.
The European Union expresses concern over the increasing violence and human rights violations in Kongo's prisons, particularly at the Makala Prison. Following the recent incident, the European Union calls for an independent investigation into the events that transpired.
In light of the harrowing circumstances in Kongo's prisons, the European Union advocates for reforms in the country's judicial system, aiming to improve prison conditions and ensure the protection of detainees' human rights.
