More than 16,000 inmates at Makala prison, built for 1,500, as justice minister announces measures to ease overcrowding

Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa announced urgent measures on October 15 to ease overcrowding at Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. The prison holds 16,238 inmates despite an original capacity of 1,500, including more than 11,000 people in pretrial detention, according to director André Kanza wa Kanza. After visiting with Prosecutor General Firmin Mvonde Mambu, Ngefa called for assessments of inmates who may qualify for release, including on humanitarian grounds and based on medical reports. The delegation reported severe overcrowding, deteriorating facilities and limited access to care; some women said they shared one bed with seven others.