Recipients of presidential pardon released from Makala central prison
This Saturday, July 22, 2023, more than 700 prisoners were released from the central prison of Makala, in Kinshasa, following the presidential pardon granted by the Head of State. The release ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Thadée Mambu Lau Mbemba, as part of the government’s strategy to decongest prisons across the country.
In his speech at the ceremony, Thadée Mambu Lau Mbemba urged the beneficiaries of the presidential pardon not to commit further wrongdoing once outside the prison. He stressed the importance of their contribution to the development of the country and encouraged them to serve their country with honor, in order to deserve other measures of clemency from the Head of State.
The release of these prisoners responds to the problem of prison overcrowding that is rampant in Congolese prisons. The central prison of Makala, built in 1957 with a capacity of 1,500 prisoners, now has more than 12,000. This overcrowding poses risks both in terms of health and security.
The Director of Makala Central Prison, Joseph Yusufu, took the opportunity to make recommendations to continue to relieve congestion in the prison. Among other things, he proposed transferring a number of convicted prisoners to other prisons in the provinces and speeding up the processing of parole applications.
This release is part of the annual practice of presidential pardon in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to article 87 of the constitution, the President of the Republic has the right to postpone, commute or reduce the sentences of convicts.
However, it should be emphasized that the presidential pardon order does not apply to those convicted of rape, assassination, murder, embezzlement of public funds and undermining state security.
By releasing these prisoners, the government hopes to ease the pressure on Congolese prisons and offer former detainees a chance to reintegrate into society. However, it is essential that additional measures be taken to avoid further prison overcrowding in the future and to guarantee respect for the rights of prisoners and the safety of the population