Kinshasa, DR Congo — A dramatic increase in death sentences has swept through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the government’s lifting of a 20-year moratorium on executions, according to a recent report by Together Against the Death Penalty, a French NGO, and several Congolese organizations.
The report, released on Tuesday, reveals that courts have sentenced over 480 individuals to death in 2024 and an additional 344 in 2025, compared to only 122 in 2023. To date, no executions have been confirmed, but the report warns of a growing “climate of fear “in the country, which has been addressing conflict for decades.
The surge in death sentences has coincided with the DRC’s decision to reinstate the death penalty, a move justified by the government to combat treason within the military and quell urban gang violence.
However, critics argue that this approach does little to deter crime and violates international human rights standards. The report also highlights the dire conditions of the country’s prison facilities, where at least 950 individuals are currently on death row, nearly double the 500 recorded in 2019. With effective legal assistance frequently lacking, and the right to a fair trial not always guaranteed, the situation underscores the need for a thorough examination of the DRC’s judicial system and its approach to the death penalty.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Dominic Wabwireh
