Reinstatement of capital punishment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 20 March 2024, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that they would lift the 20-year de facto moratorium on the death penalty. After this announcement, the government reported that they had executed 102 men identified as "urban bandits". This sparked significant controversy and questions on the human rights of people.
Background
[edit]The last execution in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had taken place in 2003.[1] Discussions about reinstating or abolishing the death penalty in the Congo had been taking place for several years. In 2019, a private members' bill was introduced in the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to abolish the death penalty. However, the bill was not passed.[2]
In recent years, the country had been experiencing escalating violence due to militant attacks, especially from the March 23 Movement in the eastern region.[3][4]
Reinstatement
[edit]In March 2024, a circular from the Justice Minister Rose Mutombo Kiese declared that effective immediately, the death penalty would be imposed and carried out in cases of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, espionage, rebellion and criminal conspiracy, along with other offenses.[5] It would also be used for the military, for those who rebel against orders or desert and join the enemy ranks.[6]
Impact
[edit]The decision faced significant criticism from human rights organizations and activists, who argued that the death penalty would not effectively address the root causes of violence and could lead to human rights abuses and unjust executions.[3] ECPM, a French organization, called for the "non-instrumentalization" of the death penalty and said it could be used as a tool of "political repression".[7]
The government justified the decision for the removal of "traitors" from the army and to curb "urban terrorism".[8] In May 2024, a military court sentenced 8 soldiers to death for cowardice and crimes related to fleeing the battlefield.[9]
Executions
[edit]On 6 January 2025, it was reported by the Associated Press that 102 men had been executed by Congolese government in the past week, in a statement from the Minister of Justice. The statement also mentioned that seventy more people are set to be executed as well. The government said the men were "armed robbers" and "urban bandits". They were executed at the Angenga prison in northwest Congo. The decision was welcomed by some residents in the city of Goma.[10][11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Zenda, Cyril. "Death sentences surge as DRC lifts execution ban". FairPlanet. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Death Penalty". Parliamentarians for Global Action. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ a b "DR Congo reinstates death penalty after 21 years amid escalating violence and militant attacks". www.jurist.org. 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "At least 10 people killed as rebels seize a town in Congo's conflict-hit eastern region". AP News. 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Zenda, Cyril. "Death sentences surge as DRC lifts execution ban". FairPlanet. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "Congo reinstates the death penalty after more than 20 years as it struggles to deal with militants". AP News. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Fournier, Emilie (2024-03-18). "Lifting of the Moratorium in the DRC: ECPM and CPJ call for the non-instrumentalisation of the death penalty". ECPM. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ Zenda, Cyril. "DR Congo's death penalty revival: A dangerous shift". FairPlanet. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
- ^ "A military court sentences 8 Congolese army soldiers to death for cowardice, other crimes". AP News. 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Congo will execute more than 170 people convicted of armed robbery, official says". AP News. 2025-01-05. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Congo executes 102 'urban bandits' with 70 more set to be killed, officials say". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-01-07.