**Saying No to Oblivion: The Situation of Detainees at the Boma Police Station and the Challenge of Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo**
The concerns surrounding the conditions of detention at the Boma urban police station, revealed by the Congolese Federation for Human Rights and Development (FCDHD), recall a fact often overlooked in public debate: indifference towards the treatment of detainees in prisons and places of detention in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The alarming situation in the Boma dungeon, characterized by its unsanitary conditions, lack of lighting and ventilation, raises fundamental questions concerning the respect of human rights within the very mechanisms supposed to protect citizens.
Gabriel Makiese, FCDHD coordinator, not only alerts the authorities concerned but also calls for collective responsibility to contribute to a viable solution. The idea of introducing lighting and organizing daily cleaning is relevant, but it only touches on the surface of the real issues related to detention in the DRC. In short, this situation is the reflection of a sick justice system, where respect for fundamental rights often seems to be relegated to the background.
To better understand this problem, it is worth turning to comparisons with other prison systems on the African continent. Let us take the example of the South African prison system, which, although it has its own challenges, has integrated reforms aimed at improving the living conditions of prisoners. In 2013, the South African Constitutional Court issued a landmark decision that imposed standards specifying the right of prisoners to a humane detention environment. The measures introduced have shown that investing in dignified conditions can produce positive results, both socially and in the long term in terms of reintegration.
On the other hand, it is essential to highlight the troubling statistic from the International Centre for Prison Studies, which indicates that the DRC ranks among the countries with the highest incarceration rates in Africa, with approximately 400 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants. This alarming figure highlights not only prison overcrowding, but also the lack of adequate resources and infrastructure to treat those behind bars. Moreover, the unstable socio-political context of the country exacerbates these conditions, creating fertile ground for widespread human rights violations.
The Congolese authorities could take inspiring examples elsewhere on the continent, but also draw on the wealth of local civil society. The commitment of NGOs like the FCDHD is a strong signal: the local population has a voice that can influence decisions. In this sense, Makiese’s call for prisoners not only to be confronted with an inequitable prison system, but also to be integrated into a process of improving detention conditions can be a start of transformation.
It is also crucial to invite international actors to focus on these injustices. Credit agencies and foreign investments should be conditioned by a clear and fair assessment of human rights, particularly in terms of the treatment of prisoners in the infrastructure that the country is committed to improving. Responsibility must not rest solely on the shoulders of the Congolese authorities, but also on international partners who support development initiatives.
In conclusion, the situation in the Boma police station dungeon, although it may seem like a localized problem, is emblematic of the broader challenges facing the Democratic Republic of Congo. The voice of Gabriel Makiese and the FCDHD must be heard not only as an urgent call to action, but also as a symbol of possible change. By building synergy between civil society, institutions and the international community, it is still possible to hope for detention conditions that better reflect respect for human dignity. The rights of detainees should not be a marginal issue, but a barometer of the state of democracy and justice in the DRC.