Makala Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo, notorious for its inhumane conditions, has once again drawn attention following a deadly escape attempt earlier this week. Many former inmates describe their experiences in the facility using the term “hell.”
Stanis Bujakera, a prominent journalist and former inmate, spent six harrowing months at Makala Prison. According to Bujakera, the facility is more akin to a concentration camp than an actual prison, where inmates are often deprived of essential needs and abandoned to die.
Located in Kinshasa, Makala Prison has a designed capacity of 1,500 but reportedly houses almost ten times that number, leading to severe overcrowding. Human rights organizations have consistently criticized the prison’s appalling conditions, which include inadequate food, limited access to clean water, and troubling sanitation practices.
The prison’s dire situation worsened dramatically after hundreds of inmates attempted to escape, resulting in the deaths of 129 prisoners. Reports indicate that many lost their lives due to suffocation during the crush, while others were shot by security forces.
Survivors recount that prior to the escape attempt, they were confined in unbearably hot cells without running water or electricity for extended periods. Bujakera noted that dehydration is a critical concern, as tap water frequently runs dry and electricity outages leave inmates in the dark for days.
“Inmates are literally abandoned to their fate, exposed to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions that foster contamination and the spread of disease,” Bujakera stated, highlighting that prisoners die daily due to the lethal environment.
The prison features a VIP section where inmates can pay for basic amenities, creating a stark division between the wealthy and the impoverished residents of Makala. While Bujakera managed to reduce his costs for a better living condition, most inmates are left to fend for themselves amid rampant inequity.
Former inmate Fred Bauma explained that order within the prison is largely maintained by the inmates themselves, leading to a dysfunctional system characterized by power struggles and violence. As a result, prisons across the Democratic Republic of Congo suffer from similar dire conditions, with the World Prison Brief project ranking the country’s facilities among the most overcrowded globally.
In light of the tragedy earlier this week, Deputy Justice Minister Samuel Mbemba attributed the overcrowding crisis to judicial practices, noting that even those merely suspected of crimes are sent to prison. Many inmates await trial for extended periods, often enduring harsh conditions without a formal conviction.
Makala’s food situation is equally bleak; inmates receive only one meal per day, frequently of poor nutritional quality. Families of prisoners often provide supplemental food, but many do not have this support. In 2017, reports revealed that starvation led to the deaths of at least 17 inmates due to food shortages at the facility.
Human rights advocates, including Rostin Manketa, call for urgent reforms, urging the government to improve prison infrastructure and living conditions to prevent further tragedies. Bujakera stresses the need for rapid changes in the justice system to avoid more fatalities rooted in a broken system.
This recent horrific incident in Makala Prison serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for reform and humane treatment for all prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
