The program targets Kangbayi prison security officers in a proactive approach aimed at anticipating the risks of riots, mass escapes and external attacks.
Faced with growing insecurity in Congolese prison facilities, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democra8c Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), through its Prison Administration Support Unit, organized a capacity-building session for officers of the Beni central prison. This training, held on April 18 and 19, 2025, was conducted in partnership with the National Intervention Legion (LNI) of the Congolese National Police and MONUSCO Police (UNPOL).
This program targeted security officers at Kangbayi prison, in a proactive approach aimed at anticipating the risks of riots, mass escapes, and external attacks. "This is capacity building on intervention techniques and maintaining order in the prison facility. There is also training on incident prevention in prison sekngs," explains Tsongo Makelele, director of Beni central prison.
Originally designed to accommodate 250 inmates, Beni central prison now houses more than 1,450, represen8ng an overcrowding rate of over 600%. This extreme overcrowding generates frequent tensions and increases the risk of mu8ny. Added to this is the sensitive nature of the inmates, many of whom come from armed groups operating in the region. "The prison is located in an operational zone, which makes it vulnerable to external attacks. We must be ready to face them," emphasizes Director Makelele.
Between Internal Threats and External Perils
The prison's security is compromised not only by the risks of armed attacks from outside but also by internal dysfunctions. Fiston Baleko, commander of the Police detachment assigned to the prison, sounds the alarm: "Some officers have not mastered the fundamentals of prison security. Prohibited items are found in the prison: drinks, hemp, knives... These are elements that fuel violence between inmates.".
This reality justifies the importance of the training, as emphasized by Faustin Nyembo, senior commissioner and one of the trainers of this session: "It's not just about teaching techniques, but changing mindsets and working methods. We are bringing the entire staff - prison, civilian, and military - up to standard so that they can ensure effective security of the prison."
A Training with Multiple Benefits
This training is part of a global strategy for incident prevention, with the objective of providing officers with solid skills in crisis management, self-defense, crowd control, and risk detection. For the prison director, this initiative comes at the right time: "The beneficiaries must take ownership of these practical methods. This will reduce the risk of incidents and further professionalize our staff in managing delicate situations.".
Through this program, MONUSCO reaffirms its commitment to supporting Congolese authorities in reforming and securing the prison system. In a context where prisons are becoming prime targets for armed groups, strengthening the resilience of facilities like Beni's has become a national security imperative.