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At Least 129 Killed in Mass Prison Break Attempt in DR Congo
A devastating attempted mass breakout from the largest prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 129 people dead, with many more injured. The incident occurred at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa, where prisoners tried to break out en masse at around 2 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) on Monday. According to Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, 24 people were killed by gunshot after warning, while others died from jostling, suffocation, and rape. 59 people are receiving medical care, and extensive damage has been reported to several prison buildings
“The provisional human toll stands at 129 dead including 24 by gunshot after warning. The others died by jostling, suffocation and some women were raped,” Bihango said. One Kinshasa resident, Daddi Soso, told Agence France-Presse that gunfire rang out for several hours during the incident and that he later saw security vehicles removing bodies from the scene. Graphic videos circulating on social media showed dozens of bloodied corpses on the ground.
The prison, which was built to hold 1,500 people, was severely overcrowded with over 12,000 inmates, mostly pretrial detainees. The attempted breakout is the latest in a series of violent attacks on jails in the central African nation. Several prison buildings, including offices, the registry, the infirmary, and food depots, were destroyed by fires during the attempted prison break.
Interior minister Bihango convened a crisis meeting of the country’s defense and security services on Tuesday after receiving instructions from the country’s “senior hierarchy. “The government is relieved “by the restored calm,” he said, adding that investigations into the incident are ongoing. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba condemned the prison break attempt as a “pre-meditated act of sabotage.”
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Mutamba barred public prosecutors from transferring any inmates to Makala prison “until further notice” as part of a series of measures he announced to tackle over-crowding at the country’s prisons. In a statement on X, the European Union called for “an independent and rapid investigation to shed light on these tragic events and establish responsibilities. “Prison breaks are common in the DRC, with several attacks launched on correctional facilities in recent years. In 2017, more than 50 inmates, including the leader of a religious sect, broke free from the Makala prison following an invasion by the group.
In 2020, a rebel group linked to ISIS claimed responsibility for a jailbreak that freed nearly 1,000 inmates from a prison in Beni, in northeastern DRC. At least 11 people, including security personnel, were killed in that attack. Another prison break was recorded the following year at Matadi, one of the country’s oldest prisons, which saw the escape of 189 prisoners. More than 200 other detainees escaped from the same prison in 2022 after seizing weapons from the facility’s armory.
ExxonMobil Guyana has announced plans to increase oil production from its Stabroek block by 18,000 barrels per day (bpd). The capacity of the Unity floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel will increase from 252,000 bpd to 270,000 bpd, pending approval from local authorities. ExxonMobil Guyana currently produces 665,000 bpd, and future developments include the Hammerhead project, which aims to produce 120,000-180,000 bpd. The company’s investment is set to further strengthen Guyana’s economy as it grows into a major oil producer.
In political developments, President Irfaan Ali has announced several benefits ahead of Guyana’s upcoming elections. The new incentives include free college tuition and a one-time cash handout of nearly $1,000 per household, benefiting 264,000 families. The minimum wage will also increase from $350 to $500 starting next year, aimed at reducing the cost of living for Guyanese citizens.
Guyana’s economy, bolstered by its growing oil sector, saw a remarkable 60% GDP growth in 2022, the highest in the world, according to the IMF. To further utilize oil revenues, the government is launching various infrastructure projects, including hospitals, schools, and a $1.9 billion gas-to-energy initiative.
At the same time, the 115th COTED meeting on agriculture in CARICOM is tackling challenges like climate change and underdeveloped agricultural value chains, working towards the 25 by 2025 Food Security Initiative.
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CARICOM ministers gathered in St. Vincent during the 18th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) to address regional food security and sustainability. Key discussions included the “25 by 2025” initiative, blue economy development, and strategies to enhance intra-regional trade and agriculture. The ministers are also preparing for COP29, pushing for urgent climate action, and seeking financial commitments to protect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from the impacts of climate change. Notable awards were presented to outstanding farmers for their contributions.
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As Nigerians face mounting economic hardship from soaring petrol prices and inflation, leaders like President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and Remi Tinubu make insensitive remarks that mock the suffering populace. President Tinubu claims his neoliberal reforms will benefit Nigerians in the future, while Akpabio dismisses citizens fleeing the country’s economic downturn as unpatriotic. With an already devastated middle class and rising poverty, these tone-deaf responses intensify frustrations.
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