DR Congo: Mbandaka central prison rehabilitated by MONUC

Source: United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC)

Date: 06 Jul 2009

Mbandaka, 6 July 2009 - After three months of work and funding of $12,000 from MONUC's Quick Impact Projects (QUIPs), Mbandaka's central prison in Equateur province was partially rehabilitated to improve the living conditions of its inmates.

At the inauguration ceremony on Saturday 4 July 2009, the Head of the provincial Division of Justice said that "the prisoners of Mbandaka were now living in human conditions." Entirely financed by MONUC, the partial rehabilitation of the prison, which dates from the Belgian colonial era (1930), will appreciably improve prison conditions.

40 two man cells were rehabilitated, as well as three cells for reforming prisoners, a disciplinary cell and twelve toilets were also built.

To reinforce the operational capacities of the prison, MONUC equipped the prison with three bicycles, three office tables and chairs, three other tables, ten visitor chairs and three cupboards stocked with office supplies.

The state of the prison was not overlooked by the NGO "Fraternité des Prisons" - which carried out the work - and they challenged the provincial authorities on their responsibility for the total decay of prisons in the province, and Mbandaka in particular.

MONUC underlined the importance of food, healthcare and beds for the prisoners, before inviting the authorities to continue rehabilitation work.

With the rehabilitation of Kalemie prison and water and food support to Bukavu prison, MONUC continues to assist the government not only in the installation and rehabilitation of the prison structures, which for the majority are dilapidated in all the provinces, but MONUC also trains legal personnel to reinforce their management capacities in the prison system.