Supporters of a jailed Christian sect leader attacked the prison holding him in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, freeing him and about 50 other inmates early on Wednesday, the government said.
Ne Muanda Nsemi - a self-styled prophet and leader of the Bundu dia Kongo movement - was arrested in March after a series of deadly clashes between his supporters and police, government spokesman Lambert Mende said.
Witnesses said they had heard gunfire near Makala prison at around 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) and saw prisoners wearing blue shirts with yellow collars in the streets.
The United Nations warned its staff to avoid unessential movement around Kinshasa, saying the situation was calm but unpredictable.
Soldiers stopped young men for questioning near Nsemi's house in the city's district of Ngaliema and arresting some of them, a Reuters witness said.
Justice minister Alexis Thambwe told a local radio station that, aside from Nsemi, the prison's most prominent prisoners, including political opposition leaders and soldiers convicted in the assassination of former president Laurent Kabila, had not escaped.
The president of Bundu dia Kongo's political wing could not be immediately reached for comment.
Nsemi has a strong following in southwestern Congo and wants to revive the Kongo kingdom, which flourished for centuries around the mouth of the Congo River.
Clashes between his followers and security forces have compounded wider tensions across Congo since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down when his mandate expired in December, raising fears of renewed civil conflict.
At least six of Nsemi's supporters were killed earlier this year during the two-week standoff at his Kinshasa residence that led to his capture.
Reuters
Wed May 17 2017
![Christian sect members attack Congo prison, free leader Christian sect members attack Congo prison, free leader](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-05/81495020651_Makalaprison.jpg)
Burned vehicles are seen at the front gate of the Makala prison after it was attacked by supporters of jailed Christian sect leader Ne Muanda Nsemi in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo May 17, 2017. REUTERS/Robert Carrubba
![Tembak mati pengawal keselamatan, dua terlepas hukuman gantung Tembak mati pengawal keselamatan, dua terlepas hukuman gantung](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720610950_TBISTANAKEHAKIMAN.jpg)
Tembak mati pengawal keselamatan, dua terlepas hukuman gantung
Dua lelaki terlepas tali gantung apabila Mahkamah Persekutuan menggantikan hukuman mati yang dijatuhkan terhadap mereka dengan penjara.
![Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur beri amaran, tiada toleransi amalan rasuah Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur beri amaran, tiada toleransi amalan rasuah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723709780_TBMaimunah.jpg)
Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur beri amaran, tiada toleransi amalan rasuah
Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif tidak akan bertoleransi terhadap amalan rasuah di Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).
![Pemandu bas maut, nahas dengan dua lori Pemandu bas maut, nahas dengan dua lori](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723708293_TBbasmaut.jpg)
Pemandu bas maut, nahas dengan dua lori
Seorang pemandu bas maut, manakala 11 penumpang kenderaan itu termasuk seorang orang kurang upaya (OKU) cedera dalam kemalangan di Kilometer 49.4, Lebuhraya Utara Selatan pada awal pagi Khamis.
![Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723704773_TBkebakaran.jpg)
Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang
Kejadian bermula apabila penduduk melaporkan hubungan terlarang lelaki itu kepada suami wanita tersebut.
![Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723708198_TBFAhmi.jpg)
Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi
Platform media sosial dikehendaki meletakkan notis 'Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)' dalam setiap kandungan AI yang dimuat naik.
![Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723702833_TBKhairulAming.jpg)
Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan
Khairul Aming meluahkan kebimbangan apabila pihak tidak bertanggungjawab menggunakan wajah dan suaranya untuk menjual barangan kepada golongan berusia.
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.