Authorities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, report that 129 people have died after an attempted breakout at Makala Prison, a high-security facility in the capital. Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani stated that 24 prisoners were killed by bullet wounds after warning shots, while most others suffocated in a crush during the escape attempt early Monday morning.
The government initially reported only two deaths, but the toll has since risen. Nearly 60 others were severely injured. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire from 1:00 AM until around 5:00 AM. Security forces have since contained the situation.
Rights groups are calling for an international investigation. Makala Prison, built in the 1950s for 1,500 inmates, now holds over 14,000. In 2017, 4,000 prisoners escaped from the same facility. The justice minister has vowed to address overcrowding in the country’s prisons.
