Mass Escape Attempt in Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed a bloody tragedy following a mass escape attempt from Makala Prison, the country's largest penitentiary located in the capital, Kinshasa. The attempt resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people, along with reports of rape, according to Interior Minister Jackomon Shabani on Tuesday.
According to reports, the escape attempt began in the early hours of Monday, but the precise details surrounding the incident remain unclear. Eyewitnesses reported hearing intense gunfire in the area surrounding the prison at around 2 a.m., with the exchange of fire continuing for several hours.
In a video statement given on Tuesday, Minister Shabani announced that the provisional death toll stood at 129 people, including 24 individuals who were shot by security forces as they attempted to warn the prisoners who were trying to flee.
Shabani also noted that another 59 people were injured and are currently receiving medical care, adding that many victims died from crushing or suffocation, and there were also reports of women being raped.
Although the authorities have yet to disclose the number of prisoners who managed to escape or attempted to do so, the government later announced that the situation is now "under control."
Reflecting the scale of destruction caused by the escape attempt, significant parts of the prison were damaged, with administrative buildings, the hospital, and the food warehouse completely burned down, highlighting the chaos that ensued during those harrowing hours.
On Tuesday, the security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo held an emergency meeting to discuss the aftermath of the mass escape attempt from Makala Prison, which resulted in the deaths of at least 129 people. Following the meeting, the authorities announced that they would launch a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances of the incident and punish those responsible for the chaos that unfolded in the prison.
These tragic events have sparked international reactions, with the European Union and the Belgian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo expressing their regret over what happened, calling for a transparent investigation to determine accountability.
Makala Prison, which suffers from severe overcrowding with an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 inmates, far exceeds its original capacity of 1,500 inmates, underscoring the worsening conditions inside. These events have prompted human rights organizations and the political opposition to demand an independent investigation, accusing the government of using excessive force and covering up the true number of casualties