Designed to hold 1,500 people, the Makala Central Prison currently houses over 16,000 inmates. This severe overcrowding is placing considerable strain on detention conditions and operating resources, while the facility’s budget remains unchanged.

Makala Central Prison is facing a massive surge in its inmate population. During a visit on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals, Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali, indicated that the number of detainees had grown from approximately 8,000 to over 16,000, without any increase in the operating budget.

“When I took office and came here for the first time, there were 8,000 of you. Today, you are 16,000, which represents an exponential increase, all while operating on the exact same budget,” the minister stated.

This growth weighs heavily on resources allocated for feeding inmates. According to Guillaume Ngefa, the current budget is tailored for a population far smaller than the number currently held in the facility.

“What does that mean? It means we are feeding 16,000 people with a budget designed for fewer than 5,000. We must therefore formulate appropriate recommendations,” he explained.

Also known as the Kinshasa Penitentiary Re-education Center (Centre pénitentiaire de rééducation de Kinshasa – CPRK), Makala has an official capacity of 1,500 places. However, figures presented during the visit show 16,238 detainees—nearly eleven times the intended capacity.

Accompanied by the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation, Firmin Mvonde Mambu, the minister inspected several pavilions, notably those reserved for women, juveniles in conflict with the law, and sick inmates.

The delegation observed severe overcrowding, dilapidated infrastructure, and difficulties in accessing medical care. Detainees also pointed out the lack of sleeping space and requested clemency measures.

To reduce overcrowding, release measures were also raised. Following an examination of individual cases, 108 detainees were identified, and the Prosecutor General proceeded with several symbolic releases. The previous week, 66 detainees had been granted conditional release.

At the conclusion of the visit, Guillaume Ngefa announced recommendations aimed at decongesting the prison and improving care conditions for inmates. He plans to return to Makala before the end of the year to assess how the situation evolves.

Written by Noé KALEMEKO