Constant Mutamba, the Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced the release of almost 527 prisoners from the central prison of Makala in Kinshasa on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
During the same occasion, he also provided 2,000 out of 7,000 ordered mattresses to the prisoners to enhance their living conditions in detention.
“A state governed by the rule of law means that everyone must be subject to the law. Your place is in your home where you will spend the night tonight. You must return to your homes. In this regard, I inform you that next Saturday, we will continue with the release of some prisoners who have been unjustly detained,” stated Constant Mutamba.
He reminded the public of his promise to ameliorate prisoner detention conditions following the instructions of the Head of State.
“This is what is being done. I also guaranteed that no prisoner would sleep on the floor anymore. Based on the instructions given to the director of the central prison of Makala, we have already provided the prison with the first batch of mattresses. The beds are currently being manufactured, and starting next week, no prisoner will have to sleep on the floor. Meanwhile, the prison’s health centre is undergoing rehabilitation, and several pavilions are also being renovated. Our ambition is first to reduce overcrowding in the prison and then to rehabilitate it thoroughly,” he added.
Constant Mutamba announced that a new prison in Maluku had been constructed.
In July, the Congo’s government announced that at least 7,000 inmates would be released from the Makala Central Prison to ease overcrowding at the correctional facility.
Makala Central Prison, located in Kinshasa, is the largest jail in the country. It was built for 1,500 inmates in 1957 but now holds over 15,000 people, including women and children.