More than 170 death row inmates have been transferred from Congo’s capital to a high-security prison in the north, where they are set to be executed, according to Congolese authorities.
On Sunday, 70 convicts were moved, joining 102 others previously sent to Angenga prison in the northern Mongala province, as confirmed by Congolese Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba. The inmates, aged between 18 and 35, have been convicted of armed robbery and are known locally as “Kulunas” or “urban bandits.” Mutamba did not specify when the executions would take place.
Human Rights Concerns Over Executions
While some view the move as a step toward restoring security and order in urban areas, others raise concerns over the potential for human rights violations and abuse.
“We welcome this decision by the minister because it will help put an end to urban crime. From 8 p.m. onwards, you can’t move around freely because you’re afraid of running into a Kuluna,” Fiston Kakule, a resident of the eastern city of Goma, said, according to the Associated Press.
Espoir Muhinuka, a human rights activist, expressed concern about the potential for extrajudicial executions, urging strict adherence to judicial processes and fundamental rights. He warned that political pressure could result in unjust convictions and arbitrary executions.
Congo Resumes Death Penalty Executions
Although Congo abolished the death penalty in 1981, it was reinstated in 2006. The last execution occurred in 2003. In March 2024, the Congolese government announced the resumption of capital punishment for treason involving military personnel. In May, eight soldiers were sentenced to death, and 25 others were convicted of similar offenses in July. However, none of these sentences are known to have been carried out.
