More than 170 death row inmates were airlifted out Capital of the Congo Congolese authorities said they would be transferred to a high-security prison in the north where they would be executed.
Congolese Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said seventy of the convicts were transferred on Sunday, in addition to 102 other prisoners already sent to Njinga prison in northern Mongalla province.
The men have been convicted of armed robbery and are known locally as “colonas” or “urban bandits.” Mutamba said in a statement that their ages ranged between 18 and 35 years. He did not say when the executions would be carried out.
Some have welcomed the measure as a way to restore order and security in cities, while others have expressed concern about the risks of misuse and abuse. human rights Violations.
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“We welcome the minister's decision because it will help put an end to crime in urban areas. From eight o'clock in the evening onwards, you cannot move freely because you are afraid of falling into Colonna,” said Veston Kakoli, a resident of Colonna. East Goma city.
Human rights activist Espoir Mohinuka warned of the possibility of extrajudicial executions and called for strict respect for judicial procedures and basic guarantees. It is feared that political pressure will lead to unjust convictions and arbitrary executions.
The flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Beijing on May 26, 2023. (Photo by Wang Xin/VCG)
“The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is complex and requires a multi-dimensional approach. The fight against urban gangs must go hand in hand with efforts to combat poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, factors that often contribute to crime,” he added.
Congo abolished the death penalty in 1981, but it was reinstated in 2006. The last death penalty was carried out in 2003.
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In March 2024, Congolese government It announced the resumption of the death penalty in cases of treason at the hands of the military. In May, eight soldiers were sentenced to death, and in July, 25 soldiers were convicted of similar crimes. It is not known that any of them were executed.
