Attempted Jailbreak at Makala Central Prison in DRC Sparks Investigations.

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has announced that investigations are underway following an attempted jailbreak overnight at the country’s largest prison. Early Monday morning, heavy gunfire erupted at Makala Central Prison in the capital, Kinshasa, as inmates attempted to escape from the overcrowded facility.

Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya confirmed on X that an “attempted escape” had occurred and assured that security forces had regained control of the situation. Local media reports indicate that dozens of bodies were removed from the prison, and residents in the area reported hearing gunfire between 1 and 5 a.m.

Makala Prison, which has a capacity of 1,500 prisoners, currently holds between 14,000 and 15,000 detainees, according to official figures. In an effort to alleviate overcrowding, authorities have released dozens of inmates in recent months.

Justice Minister Constant Mutamba stated on X that those responsible for the sabotage would be identified and severely punished. He also announced a temporary ban on the transfer of inmates to Makala Prison and revealed plans to construct a new facility as part of ongoing efforts to reduce overcrowding.