Fatshimétrie, a disturbing immersion in the heart of the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Center (CPRK) in Makala
In the heart of the bustling city of Kinshasa, stands a dark and disturbing reality: the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Center (CPRK), commonly known as Makala Central Prison. The recent revelations by journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala have highlighted unbearable living conditions inside this prison institution. The disturbing images documented during his detention acted as a brutal revelation of the human tragedy unfolding behind the walls of this prison.
The superposition of bodies, suffocating in unbearable promiscuity, testifies to the chronic overcrowding that plagues the CPRK. Frequent deaths from suffocation and diseases reveal the urgency of the situation. The deplorable sanitary conditions expose prisoners to constant risks to their health. Sleeping perched on latrines, eating paltry meals served once a day, struggling to access drinking water, living without privacy or dignity, these are the ills endured by those who have sunk into the prison hell of Makala.
Faced with this human tragedy, the visit of the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Constant Mutamba, to the CPRK, revealed a salutary awareness. The measures announced, although late, finally seem to recognize the urgency of action. The rehabilitation of health infrastructure and the release of inappropriate detainees are vital first steps to improve detention conditions. The commitment to empty the premises of incarcerated minors underlines a step forward towards more humane care for this vulnerable population.
However, beyond the promises and official announcements, the question remains: how did we get to this point? Makala prison, designed to accommodate 1,500 inmates, is collapsing under the weight of more than 15,000 souls. This endemic overcrowding is a reflection of a failing prison system, riddled with corruption, injustice and indifference. The mission of rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, although fundamental, seems to have been relegated to the background, giving way to a logic of simple confinement and punishment.
Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala’s poignant report confronts us with a brutal reality, an extreme human distress that we cannot ignore. It challenges us on our collective responsibility to reform a dehumanized prison system, to reaffirm the fundamental rights of prisoners and to restore a semblance of dignity within the walls of Makala. Congolese society as a whole must mobilize so that the prison ceases to be a hell and becomes once again a place of hope, rehabilitation and justice for all those who stay there, even temporarily.