In a recent news story from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more specifically at Makala prison, alarming facts have been highlighted. Indeed, the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) conducted its first visit to the country from 1 to 7 December and stressed the need to establish a mechanism to prevent torture as a matter of urgency.
The head of the SPT delegation, Hamet Saloum Diakhaté, expressed his encouragement regarding the progress made by the DRC in establishing its national preventive mechanism (NPM). However, he stressed the crucial importance of its rapid implementation to address the deplorable conditions of detention observed during the visit. Indeed, prison overcrowding and the prolonged use of pretrial detention were identified as major problems.
During the visits to places of detention, the delegation met with detainees, prison officers, police officers and medical staff. These discussions highlighted the inadequate conditions of detention in cells and dungeons, as well as the need to prevent torture and ill-treatment.
The SPT stressed the importance of establishing an independent NPM to monitor places of deprivation of liberty and prevent torture, in accordance with the DRC’s international obligations following the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in 2010.
Furthermore, the SPT recalled that its mandate includes unannounced visits to various places of detention, such as prisons, police stations and psychiatric hospitals. In this context, transparency regarding the SPT’s observations and recommendations is essential to facilitate their implementation.
In conclusion, it is imperative that concrete measures be taken rapidly to improve detention conditions in the DRC and prevent torture. The confidential report submitted to the government following the SPT’s visit should provide valuable recommendations for a necessary reform of the Congolese prison system.