The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken significant steps to address the severe overcrowding in its prisons, starting with the release of 527 inmates from the Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced this move as part of a broader initiative to improve detention conditions and reduce prison populations.
In addition to the releases, the government has begun distributing 2,000 mattresses to inmates, with plans to provide a total of 7,000. The minister emphasized that this is just the beginning of a larger effort to ensure no prisoner sleeps on the floor and to rehabilitate prison facilities.
The Makala prison, built in 1957 for 1,500 inmates, currently houses over 15,000 people, including women and children, in notoriously poor conditions. Inmates face cramped cells, inadequate nutrition, and health risks from water and respiratory diseases.
Looking ahead, the government plans to continue releasing unjustly detained prisoners and has announced the construction of a new prison in Maluku to further alleviate overcrowding. These actions reflect a growing recognition of the need for prison reform and improved living conditions for inmates in the DRC.
As the country grapples with its overburdened prison system, these initiatives represent a step towards addressing human rights concerns and improving the justice system’s overall functionality.