Congo Executes 102 Urban Bandits, Plans 70 More, Sparking Debate
The Democratic Republic of Congo has executed 102 men labeled as “Kulunas”—urban bandits accused of armed robbery at Angenga prison in the northwest of the country. According to a statement by Minister of Justice Mutamba, the executions occurred in two phases: 45 men were executed in late December, and 57 others in the past 48 hours.
A new group of 70 prisoners recently arrived at Angenga from Kinshasa and are reportedly set to face the same fate. “The third batch will be executed, so the first two have already undergone the measure of execution by the death penalty,” Mutamba said late Sunday.
The decision to resume the death penalty has stirred mixed reactions across the nation. Some citizens, like Fiston Kakule from Goma, support the measure as a means to restore order and security. “From 8 p.m. onwards, you can’t move around freely because you’re afraid of running into a Kuluna,” Kakule said.
However, human rights activists have raised concerns over potential abuses and the lack of safeguards. Espoir Muhinuka, a prominent activist, emphasized the risk of extrajudicial executions and unjust convictions due to political pressures. “The fight against urban gangs must also address poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion, which contribute to crime,” Muhinuka noted.
The death penalty was abolished in Congo in 1981 but reinstated in 2006. However, no executions were carried out until March 2024, when the government resumed capital punishment, initially targeting military personnel accused of treason. The recent executions mark a shift in applying the death penalty to civilians, sparking a renewed debate over its role in justice and crime prevention.