The Congolese government has executed 102 men, aged 18 to 35, in one week, with 70 more awaiting execution, the New Times said on Monday citing Justice Minister Constant Mutamba.
The men, identified as armed robbers and “urban bandits” known locally as Kuluna, were executed at Angenga prison in northwest DR Congo.
Forty-five were executed in late December, and 57 in the past 48 hours. A third group of 70 prisoners has arrived at the prison, but their status remains unclear.
These executions follow the government’s controversial decision to resume capital punishment in March 2024, initially intended for military personnel accused of treason. While some view the move as necessary for restoring urban security, others warn of potential human rights abuses.
The death penalty was abolished in DR Congo in 1981, reinstated in 2006, and last applied in 2003. Recent executions mark a stark return to the practice, sparking national and international debate.
