Dangerous inmates among 50 who escaped DR Congo prison in overnight jailbreak

At least 50 inmates have escaped from Luebo Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai Province in a suspected coordinated jailbreak, with authorities warning that some of the escapees may pose a danger to the public.

The inmates reportedly broke out of the correctional facility overnight between Thursday and Friday in what officials described as a carefully planned operation.

Luebo territorial administrator Jean Tshiawuke wa Tshiawuke said the escapees did not tamper with the prison padlocks, suggesting that the operation may have involved planning from inside the facility.

“The entire prison remained empty. It was a well-prepared escape, as the inmates did not open the padlocks,” Tshiawuke told reporters.

The official said security personnel were suspected of involvement in the incident, which enabled all the prisoners to leave the facility.

Authorities have since launched a search operation to recapture the escapees and urged residents to report any sightings to security agencies.

Tshiawuke warned that the jailbreak posed a serious security concern, particularly because some of the escaped inmates were considered dangerous.

He also confirmed that three rifles were taken during the escape, raising further concerns about the security implications of the incident.

Authorities are investigating how the inmates managed to leave the prison and whether individuals within the correctional system helped facilitate the escape.

The mass jailbreak comes amid wider concerns over security and overcrowding in correctional facilities across parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Officials have urged residents in the region to remain vigilant as security forces continue efforts to locate and return the escaped inmates to custody.

The latest incident adds to a series of major prison security breaches in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In September 2024, at least 129 people were killed during an attempted mass escape at the overcrowded Makala Central Prison.

In January 2025, more than 4,000 inmates escaped from Muzenze Prison in Goma after fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese forces reached the city.