Authorities in Congo have taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of overcrowded prisons by releasing 600 prisoners from the country's main penitentiary, Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa. The move was announced by Justice Minister Constant Mutamba during a ceremony at the prison.
Makala prison, which has a capacity for 1,500 inmates, currently holds over 12,000 individuals, the majority of whom are awaiting trial, according to a report by Amnesty International. The dire situation at the prison was further highlighted by a recent attempted jailbreak that resulted in the tragic deaths of 129 people.
Emmanuel Adu Cole, a prominent prison rights activist, expressed concerns over the poor conditions at the facility, including inadequate bedding, food, and sanitation. He emphasized that warnings had been issued to authorities regarding the deteriorating situation, but no action was taken.
During the release of the prisoners, it was revealed that nearly 700 women and hundreds of minors were among the inmates at Makala prison. The lack of proper care and treatment for these vulnerable groups was a matter of grave concern.
Minors were not overlooked in the release process, with around 10 minors being freed on Saturday. The justice minister also instructed prison authorities to review the cases of all minors with the aim of facilitating more releases. There are approximately 300 minors currently held at Makala prison.
One of the freed prisoners, a 16-year-old named Munganga Mungendo, expressed gratitude for regaining his freedom and spoke of his desire to resume his studies. Additionally, all severely ill inmates at the prison will be released starting Sunday, as announced by Minister Mutamba.
The release of these prisoners marks a significant step towards addressing the overcrowding and poor conditions in Congolese prisons. Plans for the construction of a new prison in Kinshasa have also been mentioned, indicating a commitment to improving the country's penal system.
