more than 100 died in an escape attempt at the country’s largest prison

2024-09-03 09:11:33

At least 129 people were killed, including at least 24 by bullets, in an escape attempt that took place during the night from Sunday to Monday in the largest prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Kinshasa , announced Tuesday 3 September Cabinet Minister. of the interior. Review “supply” which added 59 injured, indicated Jacquemain Shabani in a video statement sent to the press.

The injured are “It is supported by the government for proper care”he added. Some have died “by planting, wild” specific agents that are also mentioned “How many women are raped”without further information on their identity.

Part of the buildings of the prison building, the administrative services building, was also set on fire.

A situation “under control”

Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed on national television that the situation was “under control”. No information was provided on the number of prisoners who tried to escape, or on the circumstances.

At two o’clock in the morning, in the night from Sunday to Monday, gunshots rang out for several hours, according to many witnesses who live in the Makala prison area. Daddi Soso, a 40-year-old electrician, said he saw law enforcement vehicles carrying bodies in the early morning.

The investigation is ongoing

The Minister of Justice indicated on Monday that investigations are ongoing “to identify and prosecute the sponsors of these corrupt practices”.

Makala prison, with a capacity of 1,500 places but is very overcrowded, houses between 14,000 and 15,000 prisoners, according to official estimates. In 2017, a night raid by armed men led to the escape of more than 4,000 prisoners.