Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila commuted the sentences of all death row inmates

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila commuted the sentences of all death row inmates to life, and existing life sentences to 20-year terms. The amnesty was granted only to people convicted by decision became final as of 30 June 2016.
The president also ordered the release of all female prisoners, disabled, aged 65 or over, 30 or younger, or who were sentenced to less than three years, with the exception of fugitives and people convicted of serious crimes such as rape, murder, corruption, treason and genocide.
The presidential act of clemency was the fulfillment of one of the announcements made by the Government of the DRC in Oslo, Norway, on the occasion of the 6th World Congress against the Death Penalty on 21-23 June 2016 through Deputy Minister of Justice.
In fact, the Congolese Government had pledged to commute all death sentences to life imprisonment, to vote in favor of the UNGA Resolution for a universal moratorium on executions in December 2016, and to examine the preliminary draft of the new Congolese penal code that does not provide for capital punishment.
“These decisions are aimed at creating a political climate of trust and national cohesion, in particular in the context of national and inclusive political dialogue,” said the Coalition Contre la Peine de Mort en République Démocratique du Congo (CCPM-RD).