**Humanitarian challenges in DRC prisons: a call to action**
The dramatic situation which persists in the Kakwangura urban prison in Butembo, in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, once again raises the crucial question of the conditions of detention of prisoners in the country. The alarming figures reported by the Network for Human Rights (REDHO) reflect a reality that many Congolese prisons must face on a daily basis.
With twenty-three deaths recorded since the start of 2024 at Kakwangura prison, it is impossible to remain indifferent to such a tragedy. Overcrowded conditions, poor hygiene and insufficient food are all factors contributing to this dire situation.
Muhindo Wasivinywa, the coordinator of REDHO, is sounding the alarm and calling for urgent intervention from the competent authorities. It is imperative that the elected officials of Butembo, religious leaders and notables of the region mobilize to find effective solutions to protect the fundamental rights of detainees at Kakwangura prison.
The Congolese state has a duty to guarantee the security and well-being of incarcerated people. It is essential to take immediate action to address the critical situation in the country’s prisons. Judicial authorities must speed up the processing of detainee files in order to relieve congestion in penitentiary centers and prevent new tragedies.
More than ever, it is necessary to raise public awareness and mobilize the necessary resources to improve the conditions of detention of prisoners in the DRC. Solidarity and humanity must prevail in the management of penitentiary establishments, in order to prevent further lives from being lost needlessly.
Faced with this humanitarian crisis which affects many prisoners in the DRC, it is imperative that each of us act and make our voices heard to demand concrete and lasting changes. Human rights must not be violated, even in prison.
It is time to act, to mobilize and put in place policies and concrete actions to guarantee respect for the dignity and rights of detainees in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is our collective responsibility as members of the international community to defend the essential values of humanity and justice.