A dramatic jailbreak has rocked Idiofa, a town in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after 47 inmates escaped from its crumbling central prison late Monday night.
According to Arsene Kasiama, a local civil society leader, the prisoners were packed into one of the facility’s only two remaining cells. Struggling to breathe in the suffocating conditions, they broke through a wall and fled into the night. The prison guard on duty fired warning shots, but none of the fugitives were harmed.
Built in 1937 during Belgian colonial rule, Idiofa’s prison has seen little renovation over the decades. Officials admit the building is in a dire state, with worn-out walls and a fence that “won’t hold much longer.” Local administrator Adelard Kintolo has called on the government to urgently consider constructing a modern facility to improve detention conditions.
Prison overcrowding and poor infrastructure are chronic problems across the DRC, where many jails date back to colonial times. Human rights groups have repeatedly urged authorities to address the harsh conditions and reduce the number of inmates through reforms.
This latest escape is another reminder of the country’s ongoing struggle to maintain secure and humane detention facilities, a challenge that has far-reaching consequences for both justice and public safety.
-Deeprows News
