The Action des Jeunes pour le Bien-Être (AJBS) organization has raised concerns about the lack of operating funds for prisons in Mongala province. In a statement released on September 27, 2026, in Lisala, AJBS revealed that the situation has severely impacted the care of inmates and the functioning of penitentiary establishments in the province. The funds are essential for prisoner feeding, healthcare, and general prison operations.
According to AJBS, the non-payment of funds has been ongoing for five consecutive quarters, approximately one and a half years. The organization's coordinator, Marceline Mbanze, stated that their monitoring in Mongala prisons revealed severe consequences, including difficulties in providing food and healthcare to inmates, resulting in some prisoner deaths. This situation has also undermined the rights of detained individuals and contributed to the dysfunction of provincial penitentiary establishments.
The AJBS has urged the Minister of Justice to intervene and address the crisis. The organization also called upon the Prime Minister and the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, to find a solution urgently. Marceline Mbanze indicated that, according to their information, the Ministry of Finance had already sent payment orders to the bank for disbursement to beneficiary prisons in Mongala.
The AJBS expressed concern about the persistence of this situation as the current year enters its last quarter. The organization emphasized the need for swift action from competent authorities to restore funding for the operation of provincial prisons. The crisis has affected the overall well-being of inmates and the effectiveness of penitentiary institutions in Mongala.
The lack of funding has exacerbated existing challenges in the province's prison system. With the situation remaining unresolved, there is a growing risk of further deterioration in inmate care and prison management. Local authorities and stakeholders are expected to collaborate to address the crisis and ensure that essential services are restored to prisons in Mongala.
The AJBS's alert on the Mongala prison crisis highlights the need for increased attention to the plight of inmates and the functionality of penitentiary institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Efforts to address the funding shortage and revitalize prison operations are crucial to upholding human rights and promoting effective justice administration in the region.
Key points
- The NGO AJBS has denounced the 15-month non-payment of operating funds to prisons in Mongala province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The crisis has resulted in severe consequences, including difficulties in providing food and healthcare to inmates, and some prisoner deaths.
- The AJBS has urged the Minister of Justice and other authorities to intervene and find a solution urgently to restore funding and revitalize prison operations.
