The Justice Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Constant Mutamba announced the conditional release of 648 inmates from the country’s largest prison on Saturday, as part of ongoing efforts to ease prison overcrowding. Makala Central Prison, originally designed to accommodate 1,500 prisoners, currently holds over 12,000 inmates.
The 648 released prisoners include 73 adults and 8 juveniles who were all granted parole under specific conditions. Built in 1957, Makala Central Prison has long struggled with severe overcrowding, leading to dire conditions where prisoners often lack access to adequate food, water, and medical care. According to Amnesty International, some inmates even starve to death due to these deficiencies.
International laws mandate governmental authorities to ensure the well-being of imprisoned individuals, safeguarding their rights to life, health, safety, and security. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners stipulate that prisoners must be treated with dignity and have access to adequate nutrition.
The move to release these prisoners also comes in the wake of a recent escape attempt at Makala Central Prison. During the jailbreak, twenty-four escapees were shot, while others perished due to crushing and suffocation, resulting in a total of 129 deaths, with an additional fifty-nine injured. DRC Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani reported that several women were also raped during the chaos.
Journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala, who recently spent months in Makala Central Prison, described the conditions as “deplorable and inhumane,” emphasizing the scarcity of basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care. This sentiment was echoed in quotes reported by ABC News, which noted that nearly 700 women and numerous minors are processed under the same harsh conditions as adults.
The DRC government has initiated several releases in recent months to tackle the issue of overcrowding. In July, officials announced plans to release at least 7,000 inmates from Makala Central Prison. In late August, they announced the release of an additional 527 inmates. The latest set of releases underscores the ongoing and critical need to address the severe conditions within the DRC’s prison system.