The decision of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to resume executions after a two-decade pause would have significant implications for human rights.

Development Diaries reports that the DRC’s Minister of Justice, Rose Mutombo, has formally notified the judicial authorities of the government’s decision to resume executions for a series of crimes.

According to findings by Amnesty International, the government said it is in a bid to combat ‘treason’ within the army at a time when the DRC is facing an escalation of armed conflicts, notably with the resurgence of the armed group Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) and the need to put an end to deadly gang violence in several cities, including the capital, Kinshasa.

The most fundamental human right is the right to life. Reinstating executions directly contradicts this right by allowing the state to take the lives of its citizens as a form of punishment.

This goes against the universal principle that every individual has inherent dignity and worth, regardless of their actions.

The government’s decision is a flagrant violation of the right to life and a heinous injustice to those who have been given death sentences in the DRC, and it indicates a retreat from the President Felix Tshisekedi administration’s pledge to uphold human rights.

Everyone has a right to life, and that right must be protected.

The government’s decision to reinstate executions would be a violation of human rights principles and against a fair, just, and humane society.

Instead of the government resorting to archaic and inherently flawed punitive measures, it should direct its efforts towards strengthening the rule of law, ensuring access to justice for all, and promoting respect for human dignity and rights.

Photo source: France 24