On January 27, 2025, 4,400 inmates escaped from Munzenze Prison in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following the city’s capture by the M23 rebel group.
A video circulating on social media shows large groups of inmates running and shouting as heavy gunfire echoes in the background. Thick smoke is visible rising from the prison, where fires were reportedly set during the mass breakout.
The jailbreak occurred shortly after M23 forces announced their takeover of Goma in the early hours of the same day. The chaos in the city, marked by ongoing clashes, provided an opportunity for the prisoners to flee.
M23 fighters are reportedly engaged in battles with the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), as well as combatants from the FDLR militia and the pro-government Wazalendo coalition, in several parts of Goma. Meanwhile, many FARDC soldiers have surrendered their weapons, with some seeking refuge at MONUSCO bases, others fleeing across Lake Kivu to Bukavu, and some crossing into Rwanda.
Despite the FARDC’s retreat, a small contingent of Congolese forces, along with FDLR and Wazalendo fighters, continues to resist M23’s advance in a bid to reclaim control of the city. Reports have also surfaced of widespread looting by some elements within the FARDC and allied forces.
🛑A #Goma, environ 4 400 détenus ont profité de la situation sécuritaire confuse et se sont évadés de la prison centrale de Munzenze, confirment des sources pénitentiaires ce matin. Ces détenus ont incendié une partie de la prison. Bilan : au moins 1⃣0⃣ décès, dont des femmes.… pic.twitter.com/G8l9nFmIES
— Radio Okapi (@radiookapi) January 27, 2025
Munzenze Prison housed many inmates accused of serious crimes committed in eastern DRC, including individuals detained for activities destabilizing Goma’s security. The mass escape of prisoners adds another layer of complexity to the already fragile situation in Goma, heightening fears of increased insecurity in the region.
As the conflict escalates, the international community remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian and security implications of the ongoing violence.
