DR Congo jail break attempt leaves 129 dead

Provisional human toll is 129 dead, including 24 who were shot after warnings. [Photo, courtesy]

At least 129 people were killed during a weekend prison break attempt at the largest jail in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

"The provisional human toll is 129 dead, including 24 who were shot after warnings," minister Jacquemain Shabani said in a video message, adding that at least 59 others had been wounded at the Makala prison in the capital, Kinshasa.

His ministry said several people had been crushed or suffocated and a number of women had been raped.

Witnesses told AFP gunfire had started at the prison at around 2:00 am on Monday morning and lasted for several hours.

Daddi Soso, an electrician in his 40s living in the capital, reported seeing security force vehicles taking bodies away in the early hours.

The authorities gave no indication as to how many inmates had escaped or attempted to do so, but at mid-morning on Monday government spokesman Patrick Muyaya told national television the situation was "under control".





Business
State confirms data-sharing deal with telcos to up tax compliance
Business
KRA eyes crypto dealers in plan to raise Sh21tn in five years
Financial Standard
Inside Treasury's bold plan to avoid fresh Gen Z tax revolt
By Xinhua 2 hrs ago
Business
Kenya's macadamia farmers overcome market hurdles, embrace export growth