The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have began the process of transferring thousands of inmates from Kinshasa’s Makala Central Prison to other areas as part of its prison decongestion commission.
On the night of Wednesday, 3rd April 2024, thousands of prisoners were taken away from Makala to Kasapa in Lubumbashi as well as Angenga Prison situated in Mongala Province.
The Congolese authorities prison decongestion commission has been actualized following concerns of health and sanitation at the prison due to overcrowding.
However, the decongestion commission has been received with widespread criticism by the public and families of the inmates.
The initiative has been criticized as it deprives the inmates of their fundamental right to being in visiting distance with their families.