Africa Daily – DRC Conflict: What Happened During Goma’s Prison Break?

Host: Alan Kasuja, BBC World Service
Date: February 25, 2025

Overview

This episode delves into one of the most harrowing events during the recent conflict in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—the Monzenze prison break and subsequent fire of January 27, 2025. With claims of rebel involvement, government failures, and devastating human cost, host Alan Kasuja speaks to survivors and victims’ families to reconstruct what happened and reflect on its broader implications. The episode features testimonies from Mwamisio, a former prisoner and activist, and Lumumba, whose aunt perished in the blaze.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background to the Goma Crisis

• Conflict Context:
  • On January 27, 2025, rebels entered Goma, a crucial city near Rwanda’s border. The Congolese government accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim Rwanda denies ([00:03]).
  • The violence has resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths in the city, according to the UN ([00:17]).

2. The Prison Break and Fire

• Immediate Events:

  • Footage shows inmates escaping as flames engulf Monzenze prison. Reports soon emerge of horrific atrocities, including the burning and deaths of inmates and systematic sexual violence against female prisoners ([00:40]).
  • “The prison started to burn. When the police officers saw that the fire was intensifying and that women had died on the other side, they fled.” — Mwamisio ([01:01], [02:51]).

• Casualty Estimates:

  • Of around 165 female detainees, the UN reports that almost all were subjected to sexual violence; only 12 women were rescued, suggesting at least 153 died ([01:12]).

  • “She was burnt. The women were burnt to a high degree. It wasn’t easy to recognize them.” — Lumumba ([01:32], [11:47]).

3. Survivor Testimony: Mwamisio (Political Prisoner & Activist)

• The Day’s Chaos:

  • “It was around 9am that we saw the fire coming from the women's PR... The fire was coming from the women's side and from our side too. The fire started. The prison started to burn.” ([02:51])
  • “When the police officer saw that the fire was intensifying and that women had died on the other side, they fled.” ([03:54])

• Escape & Aftermath:

  • Prisoners escaped by climbing or jumping a 9-meter fence, sustaining injuries. Outside, the city was filled with gunfire and explosions ([04:08]-[04:47]).
  • Some prisoners died from stray bullets and not knowing where to go ([04:47]).

• Women and Children:

  • “We were told that the children had come out safe and sound, but the women had not. There were 65 children.” ([05:19])
  • Only one child is believed to have survived ([05:40]-[05:45]).

• Origin of the Fire:

  • Conflicting accounts: police or prisoners may have started the fire. Blame often placed on police refusal to open prison doors, trapping people inside ([06:01]-[06:55]).
  • “If they had been able to open the door, there would be no fire. It was because the police refused to open the door that the fire started and people died.” ([06:01])

• Conditions in Prison:

  • “We slept like animals. We didn’t eat like humans. Even animals are better fed than we are.” ([07:21])
  • Many died from lack of care for even minor fevers ([07:21]).

• Fears for Future:

  • Mwamisio has fled the country; fears re-arrest by either side ([07:49]-[08:23]).

4. Family Testimony: Lumumba (Lost His Aunt)

• Aunt’s Imprisonment:

  • Lumumba’s aunt was imprisoned in 2021 for belonging to a church (Wazelendo) that protested MONUSCO’s presence, leading to a deadly government crackdown ([09:11]).
  • “Over a hundred people died. And those who escaped were put in prison, including my aunt.” ([09:11])

• Events during the Fire:

  • The women’s wing guard fled with the key, trapping most women inside. Only seven women survived out of 224 ([09:45]).
  • “All the children died. But seven women managed to leave to escape.” ([09:45])

• After the Tragedy:

  • Body identification was nearly impossible due to burns:
    • “She was burnt. The women were burnt to a high degree. It wasn’t easy to recognize them... She managed to identify the child through her hair because she had dreadlocks.” ([11:47])

• Red Cross & Burials:

  • “The charred remains of the women in the prison were taken in three rounds by the Red Cross... They took them... brought them back to the morgue. But they were buried by the same Red Cross service people.” ([12:45])

• Family’s Response:

  • “We are saddened because our mother had her whole life ahead of her... But here she is, dead in this fire because the Congolese government didn’t know how to... protect them from all this evil.” ([13:08])

• Seeking Justice:

  • “We have to talk to the world, go to the higher authorities like the UN... let everyone know what happened in Goma. All these dead people are asking for their rights.” ([14:10])

5. Official Response

• The BBC reached out to the Congolese government for comment; no officials were available ([14:47]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On State Responsibility:
  • “To die in the hands of the state, that’s something. We can’t just let [go] passion.” — Lumumba ([13:13])
• On Survival:
  • “We didn't know exactly what was going on outside... As the fire had blocked the road leading to the gate, we decided to go over the fence... Several people broke their hands or legs, but we jumped anyway.” — Mwamisio ([04:08])
• On Conditions:
  • “Even dogs are fed meat to keep them healthy, but not us.” — Mwamisio ([07:21])
• On the Need for Justice:
  • “All these dead people are asking for their rights. Yes, but they must be given their rights. Without their rights, they cannot rest in peace.” — Lumumba ([14:10])

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:03 - 01:01 | Goma falls: Conflict context, UN casualty estimate | | 01:01 - 01:32 | Prison fire, reports of sexual violence, UN account | | 02:51 - 04:47 | Mwamisio recounts fire outbreak and escape | | 06:01 - 06:55 | Theories on what started the fire | | 07:21 - 07:49 | Prison conditions | | 08:52 - 09:45 | Lumumba discusses his aunt's capture and fate during fire | | 09:45 - 10:36 | Low survival rate among women and children | | 11:47 - 12:45 | Attempts to identify remains; Red Cross burials | | 13:13 - 14:10 | Family feelings, grief, and critique of authorities | | 14:10 - 14:47 | Call for international attention and justice |

Conclusion

This episode offers a powerful, detailed look at the Monzenze prison tragedy in Goma, highlighting failings by authorities, the horrors faced by prisoners, and the ongoing fight for justice by surviving relatives. Through firsthand accounts, the episode humanizes the tragic statistics with vivid, deeply emotional narratives and calls for global attention to DRC’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.