Nearly 1,700 Ill Inmates Released from Overcrowded Congolese Prison
KINSHASA, Congo — In a bid to alleviate overcrowding and improve conditions within its prison system, the Congolese Ministry of Justice released nearly 1,700 ill inmates from the country’s largest prison, Makala Central Prison, on Monday. The operation saw severely ill prisoners immediately receive medical care, while others were transported home on buses provided by the ministry and a state-owned company.
Makala prison, with a capacity of 1,500, currently holds over 12,000 inmates, the majority of whom are awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International’s latest country report. This severe overcrowding has resulted in deplorable conditions, including inadequate beds, poor feeding, and inadequate sanitation, leading to growing frustration among the inmates.
The release follows a deadly attempted jailbreak earlier this month, which left 129 people dead, according to authorities. While the incident sparked immediate calls for action, authorities failed to address the chronic issues within the facility despite warnings, said Emmanuel Adu Cole, a prominent prison rights activist in Congo and president of the local Bill Clinton Peace Foundation. Cole, whose foundation has visited the prison in the past, claims the death toll was significantly higher than the official figure, exceeding 200.
Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, a prominent Congolese journalist who was recently detained in Makala prison for months, corroborated the dire conditions, describing them as “deplorable and inhumane.” He highlighted the constant lack of food, water, and medical care for inmates, including nearly 700 women and hundreds of minors who are “treated in the same way as adults.”
Last week, Minister of Justice Constant Mutamba announced the release of 600 inmates, including around 10 minors, and ordered prison authorities to review the cases of all minors to facilitate further releases. According to the prison’s deputy director, there are approximately 300 minors currently held at Makala.
Despite these recent measures, Minister Mutamba acknowledged the need for more permanent solutions, stating that plans are underway for the construction of a new prison in Kinshasa, without providing further specifics.