DR Congo's Makala Prison Break Attempt Thwarted by Security Forces

An attempted prison break occurred at Makala prison in Kinshasa, DR Congo, during the early hours of Monday. Security forces quickly regained control, although some prisoners triggered gunfire, leading to casualties. The prison hospital and administrative building caught fire, potentially destroying documents. No prisoners escaped.

In the early hours of Monday, an attempted prison break erupted at the central Makala prison in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Government officials confirmed that security forces rapidly regained control of the situation.

Witnesses reported hearing gunfire around 2:00 am, and testimonies from inmates described chaos as prisoners attempted to flee, prompting security forces to shoot at moving targets. The prison hospital and its administrative building were set ablaze, potentially destroying critical documents, according to prison authorities.

No prisoners succeeded in escaping, as those who tried were killed. An investigation into the incident is now underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)