On the occasion of the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Congolese Coalition Against the Death Penalty, together with the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and several international organizations, addressed a petition to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This petition calls for strengthening the protection of human rights, for the reinstatement of an official moratorium on executions, and for continuing efforts towards the definitive abolition of the death penalty.

H.E Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Head of State,

With our most respectful regards.

At the Palace of the Nation in Kinshasa/Gombe

Friday, 10 October 2025,

Subject: World Day Against the Death Penalty 2025

Your Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic,

On this day, 10 October 2025, dedicated to the celebration of World Day Against the Death Penalty under the theme “the death penalty protects no one,” we, international organizations and members of the Congolese abolitionist movement, united within the Congolese Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, are resolved to write to you, given that you are the guarantor of the collective and individual freedoms of the Congolese people.

As a reminder, in a statement issued on 5 February 2024, the Superior Council of Defense recommended that, in your capacity as Supreme Commander of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-DRC), the moratorium on executions of prisoners sentenced to death be lifted, which has been in effect since 2003. This request particularly concerned those accused of treason on the war front in the east of the country.

On 9 February 2024, after examining this recommendation the Council of Ministers paved the way for the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals to sign Circular Note No. 002/MME/CAB/ME/MIN/J&GS/2024 on 13 March 2024. On behalf of the Congolese government, the note announced the lifting of the official moratorium on executions, citing the need to respond to armed violence and crime in the east of the country.

A petition with more than 2,100 signatures to date has been launched by Congolese civil society, supported by the international community, to condemn this setback in respect for human rights.

Your Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic,

The main argument put forward by the Congolese government in its approach, namely the fight against impunity in the face of various episodes of instability in the east, does not correspond to the findings of all available studies, which show that the death penalty has no proven deterrent effect, unlike the proper administration of justice and prevention.

We take the opportunity of this World Day Against the Death Penalty to ask Your Excellency, the government, and all the institutions of the Republic to capitalize on the positive achievements of the process of restoring peace throughout the country, which does not include the execution of those sentenced to death.

At a time when Africa is on an exemplary abolitionist trajectory, the DRC could play a leading role by reinstating its official moratorium and embarking on a legislative process towards abolition. Such a decision would strengthen its international image and reaffirm its commitment to human rights, in line with the Congolese constitution (Articles 16 and 61), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

We also express our concern about the situation of civil society actors in the DRC, who are required to register with the National Human Rights Commission. This measure, criticized by many non-government organizations, threatens the independence of civil society actors and increases their vulnerability, even though they play an essential role in promoting peace, justice, and the rule of law.

In this regard, we call on you, Mr. President, to:

  • Immediately reinstate an official moratorium on executions, pending the definitive abolition of the death penalty.
  • Protect human rights defenders and guarantee their freedom of action without fear of reprisals, abusive arrests, or administrative restrictions.
  • Engage in an inclusive dialogue with Congolese civil society and regional and international organizations in order to move towards judicial reform that respects fundamental rights.
  • Work towards the abolition of the death penalty, joining the majority of African states that have committed to this path

Done at Juprelle (Belgium) on 04.10.2025

René Wilmots, rue des Pinsons, 54 B.4451 Juprelle Belgium

Signatory organizations : 

  • ACAT Germany (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
  • ACAT France (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
  • ACAT Belgium (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
  • ACAT-Liberia (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture)
  • Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA)
  • Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France – Lawyers Without Borders France)
  • Centre d’Observation des Droits de l’Homme et d’Assistance Sociale
  • World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
  • Coalition tunisienne contre la peine de mort
  • Collectif français Libérons Mumia
  • Organisation contre la torture en Tunisie
  • Réseau des associations de défense des droits de l’homme pour l’abolition de la peine de mort en RDC – RADHOMA 
  • Les Mêmes Droits pour Tous MDT
  • Humanity Diaspo
  • FIACAT (Fédération internationale des ACAT – International)
  • Collectif des Organisations des Jeunes Solidaires du Congo-Kinshasa – COJESKI-RDC
  • Association Mauritanienne Des Droits de l’Homme-AMDH-
  • Kurdistan without Genocide
  • Organization of the Justice Campaign
  • Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan Network
  • Kurdish organizations Network coalition for the International Criminal court (KONCICC) 
  • Union Chrétienne pour le Progrès et la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (UCPDHO)
  • Observatoire Burundais des Prisons
  • Syndicat National des Agents de la Formation et de l’Éducation du Niger (SYNAFEN)
  • CONICOPEM – Coalition Nigerienne Contre La Peine de Peine de Mort
  • Pax Christi Uvira asbl
  • Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute)
  • The Advocates for Human Rights
  • Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP)
  • CCPR Centre
  • Center for Legal Support and Inmates Rehabilitation (CELSIR)
  • Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD) 
  • Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Bar)
  • German Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (GCADP)
  • International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
  • Kenya Human Rights Commission
  • lifespark – movement against the death penalty, Switzerland
  • Prisoners’ Future Foundation (PFF) Zambia
  • Horn Afrik News Agency for Human Rights HANAHR
  • African Academy of Diplomacy AAD
  • Youth Safety Awareness Initiative ( Crime Si Poa)
  • Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP)
  • Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
  • Death Penalty Focus
  • Organization Abolition Death Penalty of Iraq
  • Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH)
  • Barreau de Paris (Paris Bar Association)
  • Society for Human Rights and Development Organisation (SHRDO)
  • Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
  • Children Education Society (CHESO)