Catholic bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have condemned what they describe as a disregard for human life following the deaths of at least 129 people during an attempted breakout at an overcrowded prison in Kinshasa. Source: Crux.
According to the Minister of Interior, Jacquemain Shabani, 24 inmates were killed at Makala Prison on September 2, shot by guards while attempting to escape.
Others reportedly were trampled to death, asphyxiated, or raped during the chaos. Additionally, 59 inmates were wounded and are receiving treatment under government care.
Human Rights Watch reports that testimony from some prisoners suggests suspected youth gang members, known as kulunas, initiated the mass escape attempt.
Several prison buildings caught fire, destroying administrative buildings and archives, and thus complicating the identification of the killed and wounded.
Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya Katembwe stated on the X social network that security services are on-site to restore order and security.
The attempted escape and resulting deaths underscore a deeper issue within a prison designed to hold 1500 inmates but currently housing 15,000. Of these, only 3000 are serving prison terms, while the rest are awaiting trial.
The prison deaths are part of a broader crisis in the DRC, a country rich in mineral resources but plagued by violence and poverty.
The bishops expressed their frustration with the continuous reports of killings and criticised the security forces for their blunders and the state for its negligence.
“It is more than deplorable to have to count the number of deaths every day as a result of attacks and blunders by the forces of order and security on the one hand, and the negligence of state services on the other,” the bishops said.
Insisting that prisoners still have their fundamental rights and dignity, the bishops urged the justice system to respect the rights of the accused and expedite judgments.
They urged the government to honour its commitments to build new prisons and for security forces to return to their role as protectors of the population, not oppressors.
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Congo bishops blast government over carnage during mass prison break (By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux)
