There may still be more than 700 prisoners inside the detention center, which was built to accommodate only 300 prisoners.
The prison has seen breakouts in the past year, and the U.N. has been warning in recent weeks that conditions inside the jail might lead to further trouble.
On Monday, that trouble erupted.
The prisoners, some with weapons, took over the jail, exchanged gunfire with security forces outside the facility, and demanded talks with the head of the C.A.R. prosecution service.