Early Monday morning, heavy gunfire was heard from Makala prison, Congo’s largest penitentiary located in the capital, Kinshasa as inmates attempted to escape from the overcrowded facility, Authorities reported.
The prison, designed to hold 1,500 people, currently houses over 12,000 inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed the attempted jailbreak on social media, stating that security forces were on the scene to restore order.
Muyaya urged residents of Kinshasa not to panic as authorities worked to secure the area. Local media reported that some inmates were killed during the escape attempt.
The gunfire began around midnight, and by morning, security forces had cordoned off the road leading to the prison.
Videos circulated online showing several bodies inside the prison, though these reports have not been officially verified.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba condemned the incident as a “premeditated act of sabotage” against ongoing efforts to improve prison conditions.
Mutamba announced that investigations are underway to identify and punish those responsible. The minister also implemented a ban on transferring inmates from the prison and revealed plans to build a new facility to address overcrowding.
This is not the first time Makala prison has experienced such incidents; a 2017 jailbreak led by a religious sect resulted in the escape of dozens of inmates.
In recent months, authorities have been working to reduce overcrowding by releasing dozens of inmates, but the prison remains heavily congested.
There has been no public comment from Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, who is currently on an official visit to China.
The government has promised a strong response to those involved in the attempted jailbreak, stressing the need to improve the safety and conditions of the country’s prisons.