More than 170 Inmates on Death Row Flown to High-Security Prison in Congo
Congolese authorities have flown more than 170 inmates on death row from the capital to a high-security prison in the north, where they will be executed. The prisoners, who have been convicted of armed robbery and are locally known as “Kulunas” or “urban bandits,” were transported in two batches, with 70 men flown to Angenga prison in Mongala province on Sunday and 102 others previously sent to the same location.
The men, aged between 18 and 35, are expected to face execution, although no date has been set. The decision has been welcomed by some as a means of restoring order and security in the cities, while others are concerned about the risks of abuse and human rights violations.
“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,” said Fiston Kakule, a resident of the eastern city of Goma.
However, Espoir Muhinuka, a human rights activist, has warned of the possibility of extrajudicial executions and called for a strict respect for judicial procedures and fundamental guarantees. He fears that political pressure could lead to unjust convictions and arbitrary executions.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo abolished the death sentence in 1981, but it was reinstated in 2006. The last execution took place in 2003. In March 2024, the Congolese government announced the resumption of capital punishment in cases of treason by military personnel, and in May, eight soldiers were sentenced to death. None is known to have been executed.
