Kinshasa, July 27th , 2026 (CPA).- An investigation has been ordered by the Minister of Justice following a fire at the health center of the Kasapa Central Prison in Lubumbashi, the capital of Haut-Katanga in the southeastern part of the country, according to a statement received by the CPA on Monday. “On the instructions of the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals, an administrative and judicial investigation was immediately launched to determine the exact causes of the fire and to establish, if applicable, who is responsible,” has stated the document. According to the same source, “initial information suggests a malfunction in the electrical system,” thus pointing to an accidental cause for the fire that occurred within the prison grounds.
Inmates at Kasapa Prison
The fire caused significant property damage, affecting the pharmacy, consultation and inpatient rooms, the chief medical officer’s office, and several other medical facilities, as well as the health center’s archives, officials said. The ministry took this opportunity to reassure the public that no loss of life was reported and that no inmates escaped. “Thanks to the prompt response of the competent authorities, the fire was brought under control and the facility’s safety was fully ensured,” the statement said.
The government has also committed to ensuring the continuity of health care for detainees and to proceeding as quickly as possible with the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure, while calling on the public to rely solely on information from official sources.