In a bid to tackle the severe overcrowding in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s prisons, authorities have released 1,685 critically ill inmates from Makala Prison, one of the country’s most notorious detention centers. The release, which started on Sunday, comes in response to growing concerns about the inhumane conditions at the Kinshasa-based facility.
Makala Prison, designed to hold 1,500 inmates, was housing over 12,000 people before a failed jailbreak earlier this month, which claimed the lives of 129 prisoners. Some were shot by security forces, while others perished in a fatal crush, officials reported.
Images published by the Ministry of Justice show emaciated inmates, some with visible wounds, being taken to clinics for medical treatment. In one heart-wrenching scene, a frail man with bandaged legs is pushed in a wheelbarrow. In another, malnourished prisoners are seen huddled together, visibly weakened by their harsh confinement.
One released prisoner, who appears unable to stand, expressed gratitude to Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, vowing to change his life and avoid causing harm in the future.
Mutamba confirmed that those requiring medical care would receive treatment, while others would be transported home by government-provided buses.
This latest release follows earlier moves by the minister to decongest Makala, including ordering the release of hundreds of inmates and banning the transfer of new prisoners to the facility.
Despite these efforts, local advocacy groups, like the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace, argue that more comprehensive reforms are needed to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country’s prisons.
Makala, built in the 1950s, has been described by former inmates as “hell on earth,” where prisoners endure squalid conditions, inadequate food rations, and overcrowding akin to a “concentration camp.”
While authorities have long acknowledged the issue of prison overcrowding, critics have pointed fingers at the judicial system. It is estimated that only 6% of Makala’s inmates are serving sentences, while the majority remain stuck in legal limbo, awaiting trial in a system notorious for its delays.
