Title: Decongestion of Makala prison: more than 700 prisoners benefit from a presidential pardon and are released
Introduction :
The Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Center (CPRK), formerly known as Makala Prison, has recently seen relief with the release of more than 700 prisoners through a presidential pardon. This initiative aims to relieve congestion in the overcrowded prison and to offer prisoners a chance for social reintegration. The Deputy Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Thaddée Mambu, who carried out this release, underlined the importance of this measure within the framework of the policy of rehabilitation of prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Decongestion of Makala prison:
Makala prison, built in 1957, was planned to accommodate 1,500 inmates. However, it currently houses more than 12,000 detainees, including nearly 9,500 defendants and more than 2,600 convicted. This overcrowding leads to significant health and safety risks. With the aim of remedying this situation, the Deputy Minister of Justice announced the release of more than 700 prisoners, selected after examination of their files by the judicial administration.
The presidential pardon, an opportunity for social reintegration:
The presidential pardon granted to CPRK prisoners is an opportunity for them to regain their freedom and rebuild their lives. The Deputy Minister of Justice pointed out that this pardon was granted based on the behavior of the detainees during their sentence and their rehabilitation. However, he stressed that any repeat offense would result in a full reincarceration sentence.
Measures to unclog Makala prison:
In addition to the presidential pardon, additional measures have been proposed to relieve congestion in Makala prison. The director of the CPRK suggested that the magistrates relinquish mild cases and that the public prosecutor’s offices quickly send the requisitions for imprisonment for the detainees whose judgments and orders have already been rendered. He also advocated for transfers of some inmates to other provincial prisons and the acceleration of parole proposals. Mention was also made of the need to reform the penitentiary system in order to favor alternative sentences to imprisonment.
Conclusion :
The release of more than 700 prisoners from the Kinshasa Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Center is an important step in the policy of decongestion of prisons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This presidential pardon offers prisoners a chance for social reintegration and aims to alleviate prison overcrowding. However, it is essential to put in place deeper reforms of the penitentiary system to ensure that alternative sentences and the rehabilitation of prisoners are fully considered in the process of social reintegration