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Democratic Republic of Congo

Barometer

With a moratorium on executions
Country status
950+
Sentenced
0
Execution(s)
344+
Conviction(s)
Figures for 2025. The last execution in DRC took place in 2003.

Our partners in the field

Logo du CPJ
Culture for Peace and Justice (CPJ)
DRC

All reports

Couverture rapport de mission d'enquête RDC, 2026
Conditions of detention, Fact-finding mission, Overview of the death penalty
‘In the hell of political U-turns: the situation of those sentenced to death in the DRC’ – Fact-finding mission report
Apr 2026
Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Summary – alternative report on the death penalty in view of DRC’s 2024 UPR
May 2024
Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Alternative report on the death penalty for the 4th cycle of DRC’s UPR (47th session of the Working Group)
May 2024
Conditions of detention, Overview of the death penalty
Towards a silent death: conditions of detention of people sentenced to death, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Oct 2022
Conditions of detention, Overview of the death penalty
Towards a silent death: conditions of detention of people sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Oct 2022
Human Rights Protection Mechanisms
Democratic Republic Republic of Congo 33rd session of the UPR working group Death penalty May 2019 (French)
Oct 2022
Conditions of detention, Overview of the death penalty
The death penalty in the great lakes region Rwanda • Democratic Republic of Congo • Burundi (French)
Oct 2022

All tools

Infographics – The death penalty in the DRC (2025)
Table – Voting trends on the UN resolution calling for a universal moratorium
Leaflet – UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty
The death penalty in law and in practice in DRC
Monitoring conditions of detention of prisoners sentenced to death: pratical guide for NHRIs and NPMs
Video – The death penalty in DRC (2023)
Culture pour la Paix et la Justice, ECPM's partners in the DRC, and ECPM, are calling on the Congolese government to address the worrying situation of the death penalty in the country: by 2023, at least 800 people are threatened with execution, following a 600% increase in death sentences between 2020 and 2022.
Infographics – the death penalty in DRC (2023)
Africa, abolition of the death penalty in sight

All news

In the field, Publication
DRC : over 480 death sentences in 2024, a 300% increase in one year
21 April 2026
A new fact-finding mission report published by Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) and the Congolese association Culture for Peace and Justice (CPJ), in partnership with the Coalition Against the Death Penalty in the DRC (CCPMRDC), the Parliamentarians’ Network and the Lawyers’ Network, has documented, following eleven months of fieldwork,…
Prison militaire de Ndolo à Kinshasa en RDC
Plaidoyer
DRC : 58 new death sentences
22 July 2024
In March 2024, the DRC made official its decision to suppress the moratorium on executions dating back to 2003. By means of a circular note from the Ministry of Justice, CPJ and ECPM are denouncing the numerous “grouped” death sentences against military personnel handed down since then.
Testimony
Maître Yangambi Libote: “Regardless of the crime, humanity should not be sacrificed”
12 April 2024
Firmin Yangambi Libote, a fervent advocate for human rights and opponent of the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is currently visiting France. His presence underscores the importance of international dialogue on issues of justice and fundamental rights, particularly in light of the lifting of the moratorium…
Paysage en RDC
Advocacy
Petition: Together, let’s say no to the executions of people sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of the Congo!
08 April 2024
To His Excellency the President of the Republic and Head of State of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Press release
Lifting of the Moratorium in the DRC: ECPM and CPJ call for the non-instrumentalisation of the death penalty
18 March 2024
ECPM and CPJ asbl share their very strong concern following the publication of the circular note dated March 13, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Justice formalizing the lifting of the moratorium, as requested by the Supreme Defence Council to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E…
Paysage en RDC
Press release
ECPM and 80+ international abolitionist organisations react to comments made by the Supreme Defence Council of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
12 February 2024
In a press release broadcast on 05 February 2024 on the 8 p.m. edition of the national television news programme (RTNC), the Supreme Defence Council asked the Supreme Commander of the FARDC and the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to lift the moratorium on executions of death…
Culture
Meet the winners of the 6th edition of the “Draw me abolition” competition!
16 June 2023
This year, around 500 young people from 10 different countries brought together their artistic talents and militant commitment to draw up the abolitionist posters of the future. From Austria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Indonesia, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda, our young artists demonstrated exceptional creativity! Among…
Advocacy, In the field
#ABOLITIONNOWTOUR: A look back on a year of activism around the world
01 December 2022
A year ago, ECPM launched an exceptional mobilisation of the world's youth, aimed at raising awareness among the new generation about the issues at stake in the abolition of the death penalty and to give new impetus to the fight led by the activists from the outset. Six delegations of…
Poster Abolition Now Tour
In the field
#AbolitionNowTour : The Youth Stands Against the Death Penalty
24 February 2022
ECPM is glad to introduce an unprecedented experience! In the framework of the 8th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, due in Berlin in November 2022, ECPM just wrapped up the #AbolitionNowTour: a unique mobilization programe intended for young people from Africa, Asia, the Middle-East and North America. The project targetted 6 countries…
Event, In the field
Announcement of the 5th edition of the “Draw me the abolition” competition’s winners!
30 April 2021
Competition poster
Culture
” Draw me abolition “: you are the jury !
06 April 2021
It is time to decide on the winners of the 5th edition of “Draw me abolition”! Out of around 400 posters produced by young people aged between 14 and 20 from 13 different countries, 50 posters have been shortlisted. ECPM and the International Network for Abolition Education are pleased to…
3 persons seating for a workshop day about abolition of the death penalty
Event, In the field
DRC: Workshop on strategies for the abolition of the death penalty
23 March 2021
In the framework of the project “Together for the abolition of the death penalty in Central Africa and South-East Asia”, the National Human Rights Commission of the DRC (CNDH-RDC) met on 16 March 2021 for a workshop on strategies for the implementation of the NHRC’s roadmap on the abolition of…
logos picture
Editorial / opinion page, In the field
Launch of a small grants programme in DRC and Cameroon
19 January 2021
ECPM, along with its partners CPJ and Droits et Paix, is launching its small grants programme for 2021 in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon. Two projects by country, running 3 to 12 months from May 2021 and based outside the capitals, will be selected. The application deadline is 28 February 2021. General…
Publication
ECPM publishes a good practice guide for NHRIs
28 February 2020
The abolition of the death penalty must become a priority for national human rights institutions (NHRIs), whose mandate is to protect and promote human rights in their countries, as well as the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In order to assist NHRIs in…
In pictures, In the field
The 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty is already over, but the fight for abolition continues
14 October 2019
At the dawn of the 17th World Day Against the Death Penalty, ECPM takes you around the world to campaign together for universal abolition. Under the map, find more details about the events we have supported! Follow the news of the abolition with the hashtag #AbolitionNow! Find out more about…
ECPM
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