129 Killed in Makala Prison Escape Attempt

A tragic attempted prison break at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, resulted in at least 129 deaths, including 24 due to gunfire and many others from suffocation in the chaos. The incident, which began around 2 a.m. on Monday, was marked by gunfire and a stampede that left 59 others injured, with reports of sexual violence against female inmates also surfacing. Authorities have stated that the prison, which is designed for 1,500 inmates, was housing over 14,000, highlighting severe overcrowding issues. Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani announced that fires caused by the escape attempt destroyed key facilities within the prison. Investigations are underway to identify those responsible for what officials are calling 'premeditated acts of sabotage', while the government has assured that the situation is under control. This incident echoes past jailbreaks, including a massive escape in 2017 that saw over 4,000 inmates flee.