Prisons are supposed to be places of rehabilitation and social reintegration, but unfortunately some of them face major problems such as prison overcrowding and inhumane detention conditions. The central prison of Makala, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of these establishments where the situation is critical.
According to the Bill Clinton Peace Foundation, the Makala central prison, whose initial capacity was planned to accommodate 1,500 prisoners, now finds itself with a staff of more than 13,500 prisoners. Among them, 525 are minors. This figure is alarming and raises concerns about the facility’s ability to provide decent conditions of detention for all of these individuals.
Worse still, it was noted that only 2,242 detainees were actually sentenced, while 5,903 are still awaiting trial. This means that a large proportion of Makala prisoners are in pre-trial detention, which can have serious consequences for their rights to a fair trial and reasonable detention.
In addition to prison overcrowding, the Bill Clinton Peace Foundation also reports a grim reality: 503 deaths were recorded in this prison between January and November 2023. These figures highlight the precarious living conditions and the lack of adequate health care. within the establishment.
Faced with this worrying situation, the NGO urges the Congolese government, through the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, to take urgent measures to remedy prison overcrowding and improve detention conditions. It is essential to ensure rapid and fair legal proceedings, in order to reduce the number of detainees awaiting trial.
In addition, it is essential to ensure adequate access to health care for prisoners and to put in place effective rehabilitation programs, in order to promote their reintegration into society after their sentence. The Bill Clinton Peace Foundation emphasizes that these measures are not only necessary to respect the fundamental rights of prisoners, but also to guarantee the security and stability of society as a whole.
In conclusion, Makala central prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a serious crisis of prison overcrowding and inhumane detention conditions. It is imperative that the Congolese government take immediate measures to remedy this situation and guarantee decent conditions of detention that respect human rights. Reform of the justice system and rehabilitation programs are also necessary to ensure successful reintegration of prisoners into society.