Congo's Justice Minister Announces Release of 600 Inmates to Tackle Severe Overcrowding

Authorities in Congo have released 600 prisoners from the main prison in Kinshasa to address overcrowding. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced this during a ceremony at Makala Central Prison. Plans for a new prison in Kinshasa are underway, though details remain sparse. Makala, designed for 1,500 inmates, currently houses over 12,000, with most awaiting trial, according to Amnesty International.

Earlier this month, an attempted jailbreak at Makala resulted in 129 deaths. Some were shot by guards and soldiers, while others died in a stampede. Emmanuel Adu Cole, a prison rights activist and president of the Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, claims the death toll exceeds 200. Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani reported cases of women being raped during the incident.

Prison Conditions and Reactions

Prisca Mbombo, one of the released prisoners, expressed gratitude for her freedom. "We have had a difficult time in recent days with everything that was happening here, there were rapes, we were victims, many of us died," she said. Mbombo spent two months in prison after being arrested following a bar fight. She vowed never to return to the facility.

The conditions at Makala prison have been described as "deplorable and inhumane" by Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, a journalist who was recently detained there. Inmates face inadequate food, water, and medical care. Nearly 700 women and hundreds of minors are among those incarcerated, with minors treated similarly to adults.

Efforts to Address Overcrowding

Justice Minister Mutamba stated that around 10 minors were released on Saturday. He instructed prison authorities to review all minor cases for potential release. The deputy director of Makala prison estimates there are about 300 minors currently held there.

Munganga Mungendo, a 16-year-old released after spending over a year in prison for theft, expressed relief at regaining freedom. "I am happy to regain my freedom. I am still young and I can return to my studies," he said.

The release of severely ill inmates is set to begin on Sunday as part of ongoing efforts to alleviate overcrowding at Makala prison.