The number of death sentences in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen sharply following the government’s decision to lift a de facto moratorium on capital punishment in 2024, according to a new report by rights groups.
Data compiled by Together Against the Death Penalty and several Congolese organisations shows that more than 480 death sentences were handed down in 2024, followed by 344 in 2025—up significantly from 122 recorded in 2023.
Despite the spike, no executions have been officially confirmed. However, the report warns that the surge in sentencing is creating what it describes as an “unprecedented climate of fear” in a country already grappling with prolonged instability and conflict.
An investigative mission conducted across nearly 20 prisons found at least 950 inmates currently on death row—almost double the figure recorded in 2019.
The report paints a grim picture of detention conditions, citing overcrowded and deteriorating prison facilities where inmates face severe shortages of food and healthcare. In some cases, detainees were reportedly unaware that they had been sentenced to death.
It also raised concerns about due process, noting that many death sentences are issued following summary trials, often without adequate legal representation. Access to appeals, the report said, remains limited for those lacking financial resources or legal support.
Human rights advocates further criticised the use of broadly defined charges such as “criminal conspiracy,” which accounted for a significant portion of convictions and could be subject to wide interpretation.
The findings are expected to intensify scrutiny of the country’s justice system and renew calls for stronger safeguards to ensure fair trials and humane detention conditions.
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