Christian sect members storm prison in Congo to free their leader

Jardine Malado Monday, May 22, 2017

Security personnel sitting on a truck watch burned vehicles at the front gate of the Makala prison after it was attacked by supporters of jailed Christian sect leader Ne Muanda Nsemi in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo May 17, 2017. | Reuters/Robert Carrubba

Members of an outlawed Christian sect have stormed a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday to free their leader and 50 other prisoners.

Government officials have confirmed that members of the Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement raided Kinshasa's Makala prison to free the self-styled prophet Ne Muanda Nsemi, who was arrested last March after a series of deadly clashes between his followers and police.

Reuters reported that residents heard gunfire near the prison around 4.a.m. and saw the inmates wearing blue shirts with yellow collars in the streets.

Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba has assured the residents that the situation is now under control.

"Security force members who were sent as reinforcements have entered the prison," he told local radio station Top Congo FM. "Ne Mwanda Nsemi is on the run, but we will soon get our hands on him," he added.

One prisoner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that over 4,000 inmates have escaped, which is about half of the prison population. However, other prominent prisoners, including opposition leaders, war criminals and soldiers convicted of assassinating former president Laurent Kabila, were not able to escape.

The prisoner also said that the guards were easily overpowered by attackers, who were armed with batons and three AK-47 rifles.

The police have launched a major operation in Kinshasa to recapture the prisoners, according to the BBC.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende said that a police officer and five of the attackers were killed during the raid.

Some witnesses said that the police are suspected of shooting several prisoners. The BBC's Mbelechi Msoshi said he saw Red Cross officials loading the bodies of several prisoners into vehicles to take them to the morgue.

Nsemi, a former chemistry professor at the University of Kinshasa, claimed to have received a revelation from what he called the "Archangel of Kongo" in 1969.

He formed the BDK movement in 1986, with the goal of re-establishing the Kongo Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gabon.

The Christian sect leader was elected to the parliament in 2006 as an independent, and he created the Bundu dia Mayala political party in 2010 after the BDK movement was banned.

At least six of Nsemi's followers were killed earlier this year during the standoff that led to his capture.