The civil society in Masisi of North Kivu Province have reported that 26 deaths have been recorded at Masisi Central Prison since January 2023 owing to lack of food and other basic needs at the facility.
Dilapidated and in catastrophic humanitarian conditions, over a hundred prisoners at the facility have been put at high risk of contracting a different diseases while others have unfortunately lost their lives.
In a statement availed to Radio Okapi on Friday, the civil society have since called on the discontinuation of proceedings at local and military courts in Masisi amidst the dilapidated state of the security facility.
“Prisoners are dying of starvation and lack of health care while the Congolese government allocates a sum equivalent of 9 million Congolese francs each quarter to this Masisi prison. What is the purpose of the building intended for the dispensary which has never been used. The following recommendation should be noted: the immediate resumption of public hearings within the Masisi Peace Court,” civil society spokesperson Telephone Mitondeke said.
The Masisi Central Prison currently houses a total of 107 prisoners who remain at great risk owing to the harsh living conditions at the facility.
