“The disastrous situation of the central prison of Tshikapa, located in the province of Kasaï in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was recently highlighted by Marc Makopo, provincial coordinator of the NGO APJD. In an alarming observation, he revealed that this penitentiary establishment is plunged into an advanced state of disrepair, where prisoners suffer cruelly from the lack of sanitary facilities, drinking water and food.
Beyond the simple material observation, Marc Makopo sounds the alarm about the human aspect of the situation. It emphasizes that incarcerated people are just as human as the rest of society, and that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, even in a prison context. Thus, he launches a vibrant appeal to the government so that decent care for prisoners is put in place, in order to restore a semblance of humanity within this place of deprivation of liberty.
The prison, which should be a place of rehabilitation and reintegration, has transformed into a veritable hell for its occupants. This deterioration of living conditions in detention cannot be tolerated, and it is imperative that concrete measures are taken to remedy this alarming situation. Marc Makopo’s appeal resonates as a humanitarian emergency, reminding us that justice and humanity must not stop at the gates of prisons.
Beyond the speeches and observations, it is essential that concrete actions are taken to improve the situation of prisoners in the Tshikapa central prison. It is the duty of the State to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of each individual, even in a situation of incarceration. Therefore, it is essential that the competent authorities take the necessary measures to ensure decent conditions of detention that respect human dignity.
Ultimately, Marc Makopo’s statement highlights an unbearable reality which reveals the flaws in the Congolese prison system. It is up to the international community and local actors to mobilize together to remedy this worrying situation and reaffirm the importance of human rights, even behind bars.”