Authorities in Congo have taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of overcrowded prisons by releasing 600 prisoners from the country's main penitentiary, Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. The move was announced by Justice Minister Constant Mutamba during a ceremony at the prison.
Makala prison, which has a capacity for 1,500 inmates, currently holds over 12,000 individuals, the majority of whom are awaiting trial, according to a report by Amnesty International. The dire situation at the prison was further highlighted by a recent attempted jailbreak that resulted in the tragic deaths of 129 people.
