In a controversial move, the government of Congo has executed 102 men, described as “urban bandits” or armed robbers, with 70 more men awaiting the same fate.
The executions took place over the past week at Angenga prison, located in northwest Congo, with a further 70 prisoners arriving from the capital, Kinshasa.
Minister of Justice Mutamba confirmed the executions in a statement to the Associated Press on January 5, 2025.
The men, aged between 18 and 35, were reportedly involved in criminal activities as part of local groups known as “Kulunas.”
The first wave of executions occurred in late December, with 45 men put to death. A further 57 men were executed within the last 48 hours.
Minister Mutamba confirmed that a third batch of executions is planned, with the remaining 70 prisoners arriving at Angenga in a flight from Kinshasa.
The government has not provided further details on the status of these prisoners.
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This resumption of the death penalty has sparked intense debate. While Congo officially abolished the death penalty in 1981, it was reinstated in 2006.
The most recent execution occurred in 2003, and the government only resumed capital punishment in March 2024.
Initially, the death penalty was only intended for military personnel convicted of treason. In 2024, several soldiers were sentenced to death for abandoning their posts, but no executions of military personnel have been carried out as of yet.
The decision to execute these “urban bandits” has raised questions, with some citizens supporting the government’s tough stance on crime, while others argue that the death penalty is an inhumane and ineffective measure.