Kinshasa –
A total of 66 inmates have died at Makala Kinshasa prison in the Democratic Republic’s capital Kongo since early 2023. Some have suffocated to death due to overcrowded prisons.
Reported AFPMonday (27/2/2023), Head of Congo Prisoner Rights Body, Emmanuel Cole saw 2 inmates die in Makala Kinshasa prison on Sunday (26/2).
“I saw their bodies myself,” said Cole.
He added his organization recorded a total of 35 deaths in February alone. Meanwhile, in January, 31 inmates died.
Causes of death included poor nutrition, medical care, and in some cases, prisoners suffocated to death in overcrowded cells.
Makala Kinshasa Jail has a capacity of around 1,500 inmates but currently holds around 11,000 inmates. About 7,000 inmates are in pre-trial detention. Human rights groups frequently criticize the appalling conditions in the prison.
It is known, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the poorest countries in the world, even though it has abundant mineral reserves such as copper, cobalt and tin.
(ice/eva)