The Minister of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Constant Mutamba, announced that 102 members of the “Kulunas” gangs were executed over the past week, with plans to execute 70 more individuals soon.
In a statement to the Associated Press on Sunday, Mutamba explained that the men, aged between 18 and 35, were armed robbers and urban bandits locally known as “Kulunas.” The executions took place at Engenja Prison in the northwest of the country.
The minister revealed that 45 individuals were executed at the end of December, while 57 others were executed within the past 48 hours. Additionally, a plane carrying 70 prisoners from the capital Kinshasa arrived at Engenja Prison, though the government has not commented on their status.
Mutamba confirmed late on Sunday that “the third group will be executed soon, as the first two groups have already been dealt with.”
The government’s decision to implement capital punishment has sparked significant controversy. While some have welcomed the measure as a necessary step to restore order and security in cities plagued by organized crime, others have raised concerns about potential abuses and violations of human rights.
Source: Associated Press.
