An attempted jailbreak at the Makala central prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has left the situation under control, according to government officials. The incident resulted in at least two casualties, with local media reporting dozens of bodies taken away from the overcrowded facility. The prison, meant for 1,500 prisoners, is currently holding between 14,000 and 15,000 detainees. This is not the first escape attempt, as in 2017, more than 4,000 prisoners fled after an attack. Authorities are now investigating the incident to identify and punish those responsible while working to reduce overcrowding by releasing inmates and building a new prison facility. The Justice Minister has also announced a ban on the transfer of inmates until further notice in efforts to prevent future incidents. Residents in the area reported waking up to the sound of gunfire during the attempted jailbreak, with visible signs of death and people fleeing. The country is now on high alert following the incident, as authorities work to ensure the safety and security of the prison and its surrounding areas.
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Attempted jail break in DRC’s largest prison leads to gunfire | Latest from Prison
