Families of those killed in what authorities called an attempted jailbreak in Congo's biggest prison are demanding answers from the government as activists denounce what they say are inhumane conditions in the nation's overcrowded penitentiaries.
Officials have reported that 129 people died, including some who were shot by guards and soldiers, and others who died in a stampede trying to escape the Makala Central Prison in the capital of Kinshasa early on Monday. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba called the attempted jailbreak a “premeditated act of sabotage” and promised a “stern response.”
Rights groups and the opposition have called for an independent investigation, accusing the government of using excessive force and covering up the true death toll. One prominent activist said more than 200 were killed.
One victim, a 25-year-old who died in the chaos, was arrested two months ago in the western part of Kinshasa and transferred to Makala on a provisional arrest warrant, his mother told The Associated Press — without trial or conviction.
The family has not been able to see his body, she said, adding that they had gone to the morgue but were turned back. “I ask the Congolese authorities to provide us with explanations because we do not know exactly what happened,” she pleaded. “I ask that justice be done.”
Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani said a provisional assessment showed that 24 inmates were fatally shot by “warning” shots fired by guards as they tried to escape the facility. He also mentioned injuries and cases of women raped during the incident.
The European Union called on Congolese authorities “to quickly shed light on these tragic events in order to establish the various responsibilities, including with regard to respect for human rights and the rule of law.”
Monday's tragedy underscored the overcrowding and dire living conditions in Congo's prisons. Makala, Congo’s largest prison, with a capacity for 1,500 people, holds over 12,000 inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International.
Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, a prominent Congolese journalist who was recently detained in the prison, described its “deplorable and inhumane” conditions, highlighting the lack of basic necessities and medical care.
Congo's deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba Kabuya blamed the country’s judicial system for overcrowding in prisons, stating that people are quickly jailed at the early stage of their trials. Efforts are being made to reduce overcrowding, including a ban on the transfer of inmates from Makala and plans to build a new prison.
However, for the families of the victims, the promises offer little solace as they continue to seek information about their loved ones. “It is sad that prisoners die as if they were animals,” said one family member whose brother was among those who died on Monday.
