According to the Associated Press, the Congolese government has executed 102 men in the past week, with an additional 70 set to be executed, as stated by the country’s minister of justice.
According to reports, the individuals who were killed in the northwest Congo at Angenga prison were identified as armed robbers and “urban bandits,” commonly referred to as Kulunas. The age range of these men was between 18 to 35 years old. The first wave of executions took place in late December, resulting in the deaths of 45 individuals. The remaining 57 individuals were executed within the past 48 hours.
A group of 70 individuals from Kinshasa has just landed in Angenga, but there has been no official statement regarding the prisoners’ situation.
The government’s choice to implement capital punishment has sparked a lot of debate. While some people view it as a way to bring back law and order and ensure safety in urban areas, others are apprehensive about the potential for misuse and infringement on human rights.
Fiston Kakule, a resident of the eastern city of Goma, expressed his support for the minister’s decision, stating that it will help curb urban crime. He emphasized that people are often afraid to move around freely after 8 p.m. due to the presence of Kuluna gangs.
Human rights activist Espoir Muhinuka expressed concern about the potential for extrajudicial executions and emphasized the importance of upholding judicial procedures and fundamental guarantees. He cautioned against the possibility of unjust convictions and arbitrary executions due to political pressure.
“The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intricate and calls for a comprehensive approach. Addressing urban gangs should be accompanied by initiatives to tackle poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion, as these factors often contribute to the prevalence of crime,” he emphasized.
The death penalty is a sensitive topic in Congo. In 1981, the country abolished the death penalty, but it was reinstated in 2006. Although the last execution occurred in 2003, the Congolese government announced in March 2024 that capital executions would resume. However, the reinstated death penalty was specifically intended to apply to military personnel accused of treason.
In May, a total of eight soldiers were sentenced to death for their act of fleeing the battlefield. Similarly, in July, 25 soldiers were also convicted of the same offense. It is worth noting that none of these convicted soldiers have been executed thus far.
