Bukavu, 17 May 2011 - Magistrates of the office of the public prosecutor in the district court of Bukavu and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) have been working hand in hand to obtain the release of 117 unlawfully detained inmates in Bukavu.

MONUSCO's sections of Human Rights, Rule of Law, and UNPOL, in collaboration with the Bukavu office of the public prosecutor have been undertaking weekly visits to the prisons to monitor the detention conditions of inmates. According to MONUSCO, these visits are a contributing factor for the reinforcement of the rule of law in the DRC.

In addition to the recent release of prisoners, 27 other cases concerning under aged detainees were transferred to a juvenile court following instructions from the deputy public prosecutor, while 56 other cases were transferred to the district court for non compliance with the legal duration of detention. MONUSCO has been encouraging the training of judicial police officers, and at the same time advocating for the punishment by law of those who indulge in arbitrary arrests.

Alain Likota/ MONUSCO