A mass prison break took place Friday night in the city of Mongo, central Chad, where 132 inmates escaped from a high-security facility during a deadly riot that left three people dead and several others injured, according to local authorities.
The incident began around 9:30 p.m., when inmates launched an assault on the prison warden’s office, seizing firearms and triggering a gunfight with prison guards. The uprising quickly escalated into chaos inside the facility.
During the clashes, Governor of Guéra Province, Abdallah Ibrahim Siam, arrived at the scene but was reportedly wounded in the crossfire. Hassan Suleiman Adam, the province’s secretary-general, confirmed the casualties, stating that three people had been killed and several others injured during the unrest. All 132 escapees were reportedly inmates convicted of common crimes.
Poor Conditions Spark Revolt
Sources indicated that the revolt was driven by dire detention conditions. Inmates had reportedly been protesting chronic food shortages, which reached a breaking point that night.
The jailbreak has reignited concerns about the deteriorating state of Chad’s prison system, which has long struggled with underfunding, overcrowding, and crumbling infrastructure.
Security Gaps in a High-Security Facility
Although the Mongo prison is classified as a high-security facility and was built less than a decade ago, the breakout has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s prison security protocols and overall correctional management.
Chadian Minister of Justice, Youssouf Tom, announced plans to visit the prison site in the coming days to gather detailed information about the incident. He also called for an immediate audit of the preliminary figures and verification of the identities of the escaped inmates.
