A Tragedy That Exposes the Fault Lines of a Broken System
The mutiny that erupted on the night of September 1, 2024, at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa laid bare the deep flaws of the Congolese penal system. Official reports place the death toll at 131, but testimonies from witnesses suggest a much higher figure, compounded by widespread sexual violence and brutal repression. This tragedy highlights the chronic issues of prison overcrowding, judicial corruption, and the slow pace of reforms. While shocking, this mutiny is symptomatic of a systemic crisis affecting infrastructure, prison management, and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Unbearable Prison Overcrowding
Makala prison, built in 1957 to house 1,500 inmates, was accommodating more than 15,000 prisoners at the time of the incident. This staggering 900% overcapacity reflects not only the failure of prison infrastructure but also the judicial inefficiencies that have plagued the DRC for years. According to the Clinton Peace Foundation (FBCP), a staggering 80% of inmates in the DRC are held in pre-trial detention, a figure that speaks volumes about the systemic dysfunction.
Claude, a 25-year-old inmate, is one of many caught in this web. Accused of rape, he has been in prison for five years without ever seeing a courtroom. “They demanded $2,500 from me to close the case,” he says, describing how justice is bought and sold in the DRC. Experts like Sara Liwerant, Deputy Director of the Criminology School at the University of Kinshasa, have denounced this “commodification of freedom,” where police, judges, and lawyers routinely extort the vulnerable in exchange for favorable outcomes.
Inhumane Living Conditions: The Spark of Revolt
Life inside Makala is a daily battle for survival. The overcrowded cells are filthy and lack basic resources. Poor inmates sleep on the floor, while the better-off must pay up to $100 for a mattress. Marcel, a former detainee, describes the conditions as “hell on earth.” Meals are meager and often inedible, with prisoners relying on family support to meet their most basic needs.
The mutiny on September 1 was triggered by more than just unbearable conditions; it was a boiling point. That night, a power outage plunged the prison into darkness, cutting off ventilation and leaving inmates struggling to breathe. “People couldn’t take it anymore,” recalls Henri, a current prisoner. “It felt like the whole prison was suffocating.” Inmates began forcing open doors, and what started as an act of desperation quickly spiraled into chaos.
A Crisis Mishandled
The government’s response to the mutiny has drawn widespread criticism for its lack of transparency and ineffectiveness. While Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani reported 131 deaths, witnesses like Marcel claim the true toll was in the hundreds, if not thousands. “The government is hiding the scale of this tragedy,” he alleges.
The violence did not end with the mutiny itself. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), at least 269 female inmates were raped during the chaos. Initially, officials downplayed these events, with the deputy minister of justice stating that only “a few women” had been assaulted. Such denials have fueled public distrust and frustration.
Videos released by journalist Stanis Bujakera, showing bodies lined up in Makala’s courtyard, further highlighted the severity of the crisis. Yet three months later, no official report has been published, and many questions remain unanswered.
A System Paralyzed by Corruption
Makala’s mutiny exposes a broader institutional rot. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba has vowed to reform the judicial and penal systems, but his efforts have so far fallen short. Five new prisons are under construction, and waves of prisoner releases have been announced, but these measures barely scratch the surface of the problem.
Mutamba has also taken aim at judicial corruption, calling out “mafia networks” within the system. However, his rhetoric has been criticized as populist, straining relations with magistrates and further delaying meaningful reforms.
Can the Crisis Be Resolved?
The challenges posed by Makala require comprehensive and sustained action. The first priority must be to relieve overcrowding. Accelerating trials, implementing alternative sentences for minor offenses, and granting parole to vulnerable inmates are essential steps.
Judicial reform is equally critical. Anti-corruption mechanisms must be established to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that citizens’ constitutional rights are respected. At the same time, improving living conditions in prisons—by providing basic healthcare, sufficient food, and better sanitation—will reduce tensions and prevent further revolts.
The DRC would also benefit from international partnerships to secure the technical and financial resources needed to modernize its judiciary and infrastructure. Training for judges, construction of modern detention centers, and streamlined court procedures could all help create a more just and effective system.
A Pivotal Moment for the DRC
The Makala mutiny is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of deeper systemic failures. It raises the critical question: can the DRC turn this tragedy into a catalyst for reform, or will it become just another forgotten disaster?
For now, the spotlight remains on the government of Félix Tshisekedi. Bold action is needed to demonstrate that commitments to the rule of law are more than empty promises. True reform could mark a turning point for the country’s penal and judicial systems. But with each passing day of inaction, the likelihood of repeating such tragedies grows, underscoring the urgency of this moment.
© O Bulamba / Africa Daily Report
