The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resumed capital punishment after a 20-year hiatus, executing 102 prisoners convicted of armed robbery and urban banditry. The mass executions, which took place in the northwest city of Angenga earlier this week, have sparked widespread controversy, both within the country and internationally. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the move, urging the Congolese government to reverse its decision and maintain the de facto moratorium on the death penalty.
The executions mark a dramatic shift in the DRC’s approach to justice, after a lengthy period without state-sanctioned executions. In 2003, the country effectively suspended capital punishment, and there had been no executions since then. However, the decision to resume the death penalty comes as part of a larger strategy to curb rising crime rates and combat the increasing influence of armed groups and urban gangs, particularly in the country’s volatile eastern regions.
The Context: A Nation in Crisis
The DRC has been grappling with decades of conflict, poverty, and instability, with armed groups fighting for control of its resource-rich eastern provinces. Militant groups and organized criminal syndicates have made significant gains in recent years, and the Congolese government has been under immense pressure to take drastic action to restore order.
President Félix Tshisekedi’s government has characterized the individuals executed this week as “armed robbers” and “urban bandits” who pose a direct threat to public safety. Many of the condemned prisoners were allegedly involved in violent attacks on civilians and the looting of villages. Following the executions, the government announced plans to carry out an additional 70 executions in the coming months as part of a broader initiative to crackdown on crime.
Tshisekedi’s government argues that the use of capital punishment is necessary to deter violent crime and restore peace to the embattled nation. "We must show that there is no tolerance for those who harm our people and destabilize our communities," a government spokesperson declared.
A Return to the Death Penalty
The decision to reinstate capital punishment follows a significant shift in policy. In March 2024, President Tshisekedi signed a decree lifting the long-standing moratorium on the death penalty, which had been in place for over two decades. The move came in the wake of increasing reports of violent crime, particularly in urban areas such as Kinshasa, as well as the resurgence of rebel groups in the east of the country.
The reinstatement of the death penalty is also part of a broader strategy by the Congolese government to strengthen its judicial system and provide a swift response to the country’s crime wave. While this has received support from some sectors of the population, many others have expressed concern about the effectiveness of the death penalty in addressing the underlying causes of violence in the country.
Human Rights Backlash
The mass executions have drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International issued a statement condemning the actions as a violation of fundamental human rights. “The Democratic Republic of the Congo is heading in the wrong direction by carrying out these executions,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty’s Director for East and Southern Africa. “This move undermines the right to life and raises serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the country’s judicial system.”
The organization emphasized that the death penalty does not effectively deter crime and instead serves to perpetuate cycles of violence. Many critics argue that executions do little to address the root causes of instability, such as poverty, unemployment, corruption, and the lack of a functioning legal system.
A statement from the United Nations called for an immediate halt to all executions in the DRC, stressing the importance of upholding the global human rights framework. “We urge the Congolese authorities to reconsider their approach and invest in alternatives to capital punishment, such as improving law enforcement, judicial reforms, and addressing the underlying causes of violence,” said UN Human Rights spokesperson Marta Hurtado.
The Debate on Capital Punishment
The debate surrounding capital punishment in the DRC is deeply polarized. Proponents of the death penalty argue that it serves as a necessary deterrent to violent crime and a tool for maintaining national security. For many in the DRC, the specter of violence from armed groups and criminals is an everyday reality. The public often sees swift, decisive punishment as a solution to the growing threat to their lives and livelihoods.
However, opponents argue that the death penalty is not only ineffective but dangerous. The DRC’s judicial system has long been criticized for its lack of transparency, corruption, and inefficiency. There is growing concern that innocent people could be executed, and that political dissent could be punished under the guise of combating crime.
In the wake of the executions, many are calling for a wider conversation about the future of the death penalty in the DRC. Some are pushing for reforms that focus on restorative justice and rehabilitation, rather than retribution. Others advocate for a more comprehensive approach that addresses the socioeconomic drivers of crime, such as poverty and lack of opportunity.
A Turning Point for the DRC
As the DRC moves forward with its controversial policy of capital punishment, it faces a critical juncture in its struggle for stability. Whether or not the use of the death penalty will effectively combat crime and violence remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the execution of 102 prisoners has reopened a longstanding debate about justice, human rights, and the role of the state in protecting its citizens.
The Congolese government has vowed to continue its crackdown on crime, but the world will be watching closely to see whether this new chapter in the country’s justice system leads to lasting peace or further conflict.
The coming months will likely reveal whether the DRC’s return to capital punishment will prove a turning point in the country’s ongoing battle with crime and instability—or whether it will deepen the divides already present in this vast and troubled nation.
