Prisoners’ families and NGOs say government is not supplying food or medicine to the jail.

More than 8 000 inmates are crammed into Makala prison in Kinshasa which was built in colonial times to accommodate 1500.

Only six percent are actually serving sentences. The rest are awaiting trial.

Congo’s Justice Minister Celestin Tunda Ya Kasende says there were problems with a food supplier that had  not been paid, but these had been resolved.

Families who’ve had to provide food for the prisoners since supplied were cut two months ago say at least 100 inmates are gravely ill and near death.  

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