Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Constant Mutamba, announced on Monday, January 6, the construction of the Kinshasa Central Prison in Maluku, the largest commune in the capital. The construction is set to begin within the next two weeks, with the aim of improving prison conditions and relieving overcrowding.
Mutamba stated, “I inform the Congolese people of the launch of construction works, within the next two weeks, of the Kinshasa Central Prison in Maluku, which will take a maximum of two years. This will be a first for a Congolese head of state since 1960, to be able to offer the Congolese a prison that has never been built. All the prisons we have, we inherited from the colonial era.”
The new Kinshasa Central Prison is expected to accommodate over 20,000 inmates. Mutamba also announced the construction of another prison in the city of Kisangani, in the Tshopo province, with a capacity of approximately 10,000 inmates, as well as in the cities of Mbuji-Mayi (Kasaï Central), Bukavu (South Kivu), Goma, and Sake (North Kivu). Additionally, there will be improvements to several prisons, including Buluwo in Likasi and those in Kisangani.
“We are working to significantly improve the living conditions of inmates. These are high-security prisons, and we have opted for the PPP (public-private partnership) approach, which is progressing well,” Mutamba added.
Following the massacre of over 130 prisoners in a breakout attempt at the Makala Central Prison in early September 2024, opposition leader Delly Sessanga had proposed the construction of new prisons and the renovation of existing prison facilities as part of a comprehensive penal policy. His party, Envol, had urged the government not to overlook this priority in order to ensure effective social reintegration of citizens who have served their sentence.
In light of these developments, the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges within the penal system is a crucial step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of both inmates and the broader community. The construction of modern, well-equipped prisons will not only enhance security but also contribute to the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back into society. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to reform the criminal justice system and uphold the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their past actions.