Democratic Republic of the Congo - March 2024

In a circular dated 13 March, the Ministry of Justice revealed that in February the government had decided to lift the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) 21-year moratorium on the use of the death penalty. According to the circular, the decision was motivated by the need ‘to rid our country’s army of traitors…and to stem the resurgence of acts of terrorism and urban banditry.’ A date was not given for the implementation of the decision. The weaknesses of the DRC’s judicial system, recently acknowledged by President Tshisekedi, have given rise to fears amongst Congolese rights activists that the reinstatement of the death penalty will lead to summary executions. Jeune Afrique reported security sources who indicated that the ‘public execution of soldiers’ accused of collaborating with Rwanda and the M23 rebels operating in the east of the country were likely already being planned. Amnesty International called the government’s decision ‘a huge step backward’ and ‘even more alarming’ in the context of growing state repression.  

Sources: Jurist, Jeune Afrique (1), Jeune Afrique (2), LUCHA, Amnesty International, The Africa Report