In its latest report, the Congolese Association for Access to Justice once again sounded the alarm about the sad living conditions of Congolese prisoners, despite some improvements.
as reported from Kinshasa, Kamanda wa Kamanda Muzembe
Lack of adequate medical care, promiscuity and inhuman material conditions: these are the reasons why Acaj has come forward to explain such mortality in Makala Prison in Kinshasa since the beginning of the year. A colonial prison, designed to accommodate 1,500 inhabitants, but which at the end of July 2021 had more than 9,000. The facility’s exemption is not equipped to care for sick prisoners, in the same way as the sanatorium’s medical center where these prisoners are evacuated regularly.
Acajs is particularly concerned about the conditions for the detention of women. They are currently 186 detained in Makala. Four of them are accompanied by their infants. Acaj appeals to the authorities. The overcrowding of prisons, dilapidated cells and the lack of sanitary facilities should, the association believes, encourage the government to build new prisons to international standards to relieve the old ones.
.
