Congo reinstates death penalty after over 2 decades amid fight with militants

According to a statement made on Friday by the justice ministry, Congo has lifted a moratorium on the death sentence that was in place for more than two decades as the country’s authorities work to reduce violence and terrorist attacks.

According to the statement, which was released earlier this week, the 2003 prohibition let people who were charged with treason and espionage escape punishment.

Decades of conflict have plagued the eastern Congo, with over 120 armed factions vying for territory, control, and occasionally even for the defense of their towns.

According to the administration, the bloodshed in the east has caused ongoing unrest throughout the nation and sparked an increase in attacks that have terrified local populations.

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The M23 rebel group, which is the most powerful in the area and is said to have ties to Rwanda, has been attacking villages in recent years, driving many of them to escape to Goma, the biggest city in the region. Approximately half of the province of North Kivu is under the grip of M23, which has besieged multiple settlements.

As security forces fight the insurgents, the bloodshed in the area has been worse in recent weeks. According to locals, the fighters of this gang typically assault from hillsides with a view of distant cities using bombs.

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In its statement, the justice ministry said capital punishment will be reserved for offenders involved in criminal conspiracies, armed gangs, insurrection — and also those who commit treason and war crimes. It will also be applied to the military, including those who rebel or desert and join enemy ranks.

Rights groups have condemned the decision, calling it a step back for the country.

“This initiative is against the constitution,” said Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for Human Rights. “We don’t think that capital punishment and the execution of this sentence are appropriate measures to restore order.”

(With agency inputs)