Investigative reporting reveals the appalling state of Makala prison. Learn about the severe conditions faced by inmates.

Makala prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently accommodating more than 15,000 detainees which is much higher compared to its maximum capacity of only 1,500.

A report by the Bill Clinton Foundation for Peace in December 2023 found that a vast majority of individuals were being held in pre-trial detention, leading to deplorable living conditions.

Videos depicting severe overcrowding were shared on social media by Stanis Bujakera, a journalist who was previously imprisoned in Makala. He characterizes the prison as a location where “living people are dying.”

Efforts are currently being made by Justice Minister Constant Mutamba to decrease overcrowding in all prisons of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He disregarded Bujakera’s videos as outdated clips and contended that the government sufficiently offers food and medical attention to inmates, affirming that conditions aren’t as direly portrayed.