Prominent Ugandan human rights lawyer, Steven Kalali, has taken legal action against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), filing a case with the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) over alleged mistreatment of prisoners.
Kalali’s petition accuses the DR Congo government of failing to uphold prisoners’ basic rights, citing inhumane conditions, including severe overcrowding, physical abuse, and sexual violence affecting female inmates at a major prison in Kinshasa.
In his submission, Kalali contends that the DRC’s actions violate not only the principles of the East African Community (EAC) Treaty but also international human rights standards.
He argues that the treatment of inmates and the lack of adequate prison infrastructure defy the commitments to human dignity and fair treatment upheld by the EAC Treaty and other global human rights frameworks.
This case comes in the wake of a deadly prison escape attempt on September 1st and 2nd, 2024, at Kinshasa’s Makala Prison. During this tragic event, reports indicate that hundreds of people lost their lives as authorities struggled to contain the situation.
Kalali claims that this incident highlights the broader issues within DRC’s prison system, calling for urgent improvements to ensure inmates’ safety and basic rights.
He has appealed to the EACJ to officially recognize that the DRC government is failing to provide essential facilities and conditions in its prisons.
He contends that this neglect breaches not only the EAC Treaty but also the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as other international human rights agreements.
The DRC government, represented by its Minister of Justice, has been served with a notice to respond to these allegations.
The court has provided a 45-day period for the DRC to file its defense against Kalali’s claims. The outcome of this case may set a significant precedent for human rights accountability across the East African region and beyond.
