Sources: New York Times
Ten inmates take part in a mass escape from the Orleans Parish jail in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Three are recaptured; the other seven remain fugitives. 2025-05-16
Widespread civil disorder arises in Uvira, South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo amid M23 rebel advances from Bukavu. At least thirty deaths are reported, along with looting and a prison break of 228 Congolese soldiers imprisoned for desertion. 2025-02-19
More than 1,500 inmates escape from a prison in Maputo, Mozambique, after knocking down a wall during a riot. At least 33 people are killed and 15 others are injured. 2024-12-25
At least 129 inmates are killed and 59 more injured in an attempted prison break at Makala Prison pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2024-09-2
Sierra Leone declares a national curfew following an attack by militants on barracks in Freetown. The militants later break into Freetown Central Prison, setting some inmates free. 2023-11-26
Authorities say that heavily-armed gunmen attacked a prison in Owerri, Imo, freeing more than 1,800 prisoners. Police accuse the banned separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra of being the attackers. The group denies the allegations, calling them "lies". 2021-04-5
Gunmen storm a jail in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and free more than 1,300 inmates, also attacking the military camp that provides security to the prison. The town's mayor blames the Allied Democratic Forces, which he says used electrical equipment. Twenty inmates return, and two are shot dead. 2020-10-20
Gunmen attack a military base in Kindia, Guinea, about 85 km outside of the capital Conakry, killing the camp's commander, according to a statement released by the defence ministry. A prison in the city is also attacked, wounding an official and allowing several inmates to escape. The attacks come two days before the general elections. 2020-10-16
Inmates take seven guards hostage at a prison in Manaus, Brazil, during an attempted escape. A raid later frees the guards and ends the prisoners' rebellion. 2020-05-2
Papua New Guinean media reports confirm that 17 people were fatally shot by prison officers during a prison escape in Lae on May 12. 2017-05-15