The Congolese government rejects the position of Canada, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom, which oppose the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in force since 2003 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was the Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, who informed the representatives of these countries during the audience on March 25.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the embassies of Switzerland, Norway and Canada, which it received in audience this afternoon, that the Congolese government does not approve its joint declaration of March 20 on the lifting of the moratorium on the death penalty in the Democratic Republic. Republic of Congo. », Indicates a press release from Congolese diplomacy published on official channels.

In their March 20 statement, the embassies of Canada, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom based in Kinshasa opposed “in all circumstances” this decision to reinstate the death penalty because, according to them, more than both thirds of the world’s countries have abolished it. he.

“We believe that the application of the death penalty violates human dignity, that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value and that any judicial error leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable,” these countries declared.

For the Congolese government, inflexible in the application of the death penalty, the lifting of this moratorium aims, among other things, to attack the causes of insecurity and banditry in the country, in particular by fighting against fraud in the country. . within the army and security forces.

These arguments from the Congolese authorities are not enough to convince the movement of disapproval observed since the decision to lift the moratorium.

F.Joseph