In the heart of the Maï-Ndombe province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Iyombe central prison, located in Inongo, is the scene of an alarming humanitarian crisis. The detainees and convicts held there endure inhumane conditions, particularly in terms of food and medical care. This disastrous situation is mainly due to the deficit in subsidies from the Congolese state, accentuated by a period of five months without financial support.
The portrait painted by the director of the penitentiary establishment, Joseph Lilenge Isankema, is very bleak. The cracked walls, dilapidated metal sheets and the glaring lack of food plunge the prison into an advanced state of disrepair, compromising the security and well-being of the detainees. Faced with this distress, the call for urgent intervention by the central authorities resonates as a real necessity.
The dilapidated state of the building, built in 1923, is alarming, and the urgency of the situation calls for an immediate response. With 145 detainees living in deplorable conditions, the survival and dignity of these individuals are now threatened. The appeal launched by Joseph Lilenge Isankema highlights the urgent need for awareness and concrete action to remedy this intolerable situation.
Faced with this shocking reality, civil society and the authorities must join forces to ensure that the fundamental rights of detainees in Iyombe Central Prison are respected. Access to adequate food and dignified health care is a humanitarian imperative that cannot be ignored. It is high time that the competent authorities take concrete measures to improve the conditions of detention in Inongo and ensure respect for human dignity for all detainees.
In conclusion, the critical situation at Iyombe Central Prison in Inongo calls for immediate and concerted mobilization to end the suffering of detainees. The urgency for humanitarian intervention is palpable, and it is imperative that the authorities act quickly to restore the dignity and rights of those incarcerated. Joseph Lilenge Isankema’s voice resonates as a call to action, and it is our duty to answer this call to make Iyombe prison a place of rehabilitation and respect for human rights.