The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) executed 102 young people between December 2024 and January 2025. Aged between 18 and 35, the government convicted these young people of armed robbery.
The DRC’s Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba, confirmed to the Associated Press that the government executed 45 convicts in December and 57 more in January. The death penalty threatens the potential of young people to contribute to the DRC’s social and economic development.
The death penalty is also inadequate in combating crime because it does not always guarantee a reduction in the crime rate. To address the social and economic impacts of the death penalty, the DRC should abolish the penalty and introduce alternative penalties.
Alternative penalties should include prison terms, probation, community service, and fines. In addition, implementing rehabilitation and skill acquisition programmes can help convicts to reintegrate.
Abolishing the death penalty aligns with Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which recognises and upholds the inviolability of human life. The abolition would allow death-row convicts in the DRC to undergo rehabilitation and reintegrate into society.
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Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty in December 2024, setting an example for other African countries. The abolishment saved the lives of 60 convicts who were on death row. The last time Zimbabwe executed a convict was in 2005. The Associated Press reported in February 2025 that Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana also proposed abolishing the death penalty. However, these countries had yet to implement the abolition.
Abolishing the death penalty shows Zimbabwe’s recognition of the value of human life and prioritising the rehabilitation of death-row convicts. This abolishment also presents Zimbabwe as a model in safeguarding the right to life as guaranteed by the African Charter. In addition, the abolishment saves the lives of Zimbabwean youth, who constitute 67.7 per cent of the country’s population.
The DRC should follow Zimbabwe’s example of abolishing the death penalty. The death penalty ends the lives of convicts who may still be able to contribute their skills to national development if given a second chance. Instead of executing death-row convicts, the DRC should engage them productively.
The productive engagement of death-row convicts would require the DRC to enact laws abolishing the death penalty. The enactment process can be done in two ways. For example, the African Union can amend the African Charter to abolish the death penalty, and the DRC can ratify the abolition. Also, the country’s legislature can pass a bill to implement the abolition.
Burkina Faso’s prison reform is exemplary for the DRC and other African countries. As part of the reform, the government integrates inmates and suspects awaiting trials into the agricultural sector in exchange for reduced sentences. One month’s work equates to three months of prison term. Prisoners who participate in the programme can reintegrate into society quicker, while also contributing to the country’s food production.
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Burkina Faso’s example shows that death-row convicts and other convicts could be productive members of society. Instead of sentencing these convicts to death or leaving them idle in prison, the DRC can engage them in profitable ventures.
Such ventures should be mutually beneficial to such convicts and society. However, to avoid subjecting death-row convicts to servitude, the DRC government must emphasise rehabilitation and empowerment.
The DRC government should train relevant personnel to implement these alternative penalties. For example, prison officials must learn to treat all inmates more humanely, focusing on their rehabilitation. The government can partner with skilled workers and professionals in the rehabilitation and reintegration of death-row convicts.
Skilled workers such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters can train the convicts to become resourceful when released from prison. Professionals such as therapists and counsellors would need to help ex-convicts reintegrate into society. The government should also educate the public about the benefits of the alternative penalties to encourage ex-convicts’ reintegration.
Jude Terna Ayua is a writing fellow at African Liberty, an Associate at Infusion Lawyers, and a Policy Analyst at Crypto Asset Buyer. He’s available at jayua@africanliberty.org or on X as @AyuaJude. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
