Congo - Kinshasa
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- Republic
- CONSTITUTION
- February 18, 2006
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on the Belgian and French systems
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, composed of National Assembly and Senate
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal or Court of Cassation; Council of State; Martial Judicial System, military and civil courts
RELIGIONS
50% Catholics, 20% Protestants, 10% Kimbanguist, 10% Muslims, 10% animist minorities and other indigenous beliefs
From the country
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDR CONGO: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES 26 ARMED GROUP MEMBERS TO DEATH
A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on August 8, 2024 sentenced 26 people accused of involvement in armed groups, including the M23, to death after a high-profile trial that started late last month.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDR CONGO: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES 37 TO DEATH IN COUP TRIAL
A military court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has sentenced to death 37 people, including three United States citizens, on charges of taking part in a failed coup in May.
JULY 9, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYD R CONGO: TWO MORE SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FLEEING BATTLE
Two more solders have been sentenced to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo after they fled battles in conflict-torn North Kivu province, a military court said on July 5, 2024
JULY 8, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDR CONGO: 25 SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FLEEING BATTLE
Twenty-five soldiers have been sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for fleeing battles against M23 rebels and theft, their lawyer and an army spokesman said on July 4, 2024.
- MAY 5, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
DR CONGO: 8 TROOPS HANDED DESERTION DEATH SENTENCE
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo's war-torn east on May 3, 2024 handed a death sentence to eight soldiers, including five officers, for desertion and cowardice when fighting M23 rebels.
APRIL 15, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDRC: DEATH PENALTY FOR AN ARMY SERGEANT-MAJOR AFTER THE MURDER OF A PREGNANT WOMAN IN GOMA
A soldier from the army, Sergeant Major Serugo Buhera, on April 6, 2024 was sentenced to death for shooting and killing a pregnant woman, at the end of a summary trial at the military garrison tribunal of Goma, in the North Kivu province.
- MARCH 22, 2024Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
DRC LIFTS DEATH-PENALTY MORATORIUM TO EXECUTE THOSE WHO WORK WITH M23 - OR SHOW COWARDICE
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resolved to lift a 21-year moratorium on death penalty executions as part of measures to stop its citizens, and serving military and police, from working with M23 rebels in the eastern part of the country.
OCTOBER 11, 2023Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDRC: LAWMAKER GETS DEATH SENTENCE OVER TREASON CHARGES
A Congolese military court sentenced a lawmaker to death on October 10, 2023 for treason and involvement with the M23 rebel movement, a verdict his lawyer denounced as based on "ethnic hatred."
OCTOBER 4, 2023Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDR CONGO: ARMY OFFICER RECEIVES DEATH SENTENCE OVER PROTEST KILLINGS
A military court sentenced a DR Congo army officer to death and handed 10-year prison terms to three others on October 2, 2023 over the August killing of more than 50 protesters in the eastern city of Goma.
AUGUST 8, 2023Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDRC: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING YOUNG GIRL
A Congolese woman on August 5, 2023 was sentenced to death for the murder of a girl whose mutilated body was found near a river in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
AUGUST 2, 2023Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDRC: THE SOLDIER RESPONSIBLE FOR A FAMILY MASSACRE SENTENCED TO DEATH
A soldier was sentenced to death on July 26, 2023 for a family massacre that killed 13 people on July 22 in Ituri, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MAY 24, 2023Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDRC: KENYAN FUGITIVE HANDED DEATH SENTENCE
A Court in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has sentenced Kenyan terror suspect Salim Mohammed, alias Chotora, to death.