Authorities in Congo announced the release of 600 prisoners from the Makala Central Prison in Kinshasha as part of efforts to alleviate overcrowding. The Justice Minister revealed the release during a ceremony at the prison. Plans for the construction of a new facility in Kinshasa were also mentioned without further details.
The largest penitentiary in Congo, Makala prison, designed for 1,500 people, is currently holding over 12,000 inmates, predominantly individuals awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International. Following an attempted jailbreak that resulted in 129 deaths, with some shot by guards and others in a stampede, concerns about the conditions in the facility heightened.
Reports of women being raped during the incident surfaced. The Congolese Interior Minister mentioned these cases without providing more details. The attempts to break out caused havoc, leading to numerous deaths and assaults, as recounted by Prisca Mbombo, one of the released prisoners who had spent two months in the facility.
Activists and journalists have expressed the dire conditions inside the prison, emphasizing the lack of basic necessities like beds, food, water, and medical care. The journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, who was detained in the prison, described the situation as deplorable and inhumane, mentioning the challenging circumstances endured by female and minor inmates.
Addressing the issue, the justice minister ordered the examination of cases involving minors to facilitate further releases. Approximately 300 minors are currently being held at Makala prison. With some detainees expressing gratitude for regaining their freedom, the minister emphasized releasing severely ill inmates starting from the following day.
