# Prison conditions and security in North Kivu > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/prison-conditions-and-security-in-north-kivu > Updated: 2026-10-10T07:12:52.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Human rights organizations have raised alarms regarding inhumane detention conditions in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Butembo, the Kakwangura urban prison is reportedly severely overcrowded, with 1,359 detainees and 246 inmates suffering from malnourishment due to a lack of state subsidies for food and medical care. In Beni, the Kangbayi central prison faces a critical situation. Designed for 250 people, the facility is currently housing more than 2,350 inmates. Civil society groups have warned of life-threatening sanitary issues and empty food stocks. On October 10, 2026, the security risks associated with these conditions were realized when twelve military detainees escaped from the Kangbayi facility. The escapees, which include four Ugandan nationals convicted of bank robbery, reportedly used a hacksaw to cut through security devices in the toilets before scaling the perimeter wall. While one individual was apprehended by local residents, a manhunt remains underway for the others. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-10: Beni prison escape: Twelve military detainees flee Kangbayi facility Twelve military detainees, including four Ugandan nationals, escaped from the overcrowded Kangbayi central prison in Beni, North Kivu, using makeshift tools and blankets. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/beni-prison-escape-twelve-military-detainees-flee-kangbayi-facility ### 2026-09-26: Human rights groups warn of inhumane prison conditions in North Kivu Human rights groups warn of severe overcrowding, malnutrition, and food shortages in North Kivu prisons, specifically Kakwangura in Butembo and Kangbayi in Beni. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/human-rights-groups-warn-of-inhumane-prison-conditions-in-north-kivu --- Cite as: Prison conditions and security in North Kivu. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/prison-conditions-and-security-in-north-kivu