Gunfire heard in DRC’s biggest prison after attempted jail break

Authorities say the security forces have the situation under control, but the number of casualties is unclear.

The government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) says inquiries are under way after an attempted jailbreak overnight from the country’s biggest prison.

Heavy gunfire rang out early Monday morning from Makala central prison in the capital Kinshasa as inmates tried to break out from the overcrowded facility, authorities said.

Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed on X that there was an “an attempted escape”, adding that security forces now had the situation under control.

Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma, said at least two people were killed in the incident.

“However, the pictures coming from the central jail of Makala show what local media already calls a carnage, but we cannot confirm the number of causalities,” he said.