Expansion of Security Operations
Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire have seen the largest operation against urban crime since 2018. Police and gendarmerie units, revitalized by a new national command established in July 2024, have arrested over 3,000 suspects, including approximately 500 alleged members of the Kulunas and Bébés Noirs gangs.
Security checkpoints have multiplied along main arteries, while night patrols have been extended to markets and river stations. Interior Ministry statements attribute a sharp drop in armed robbery complaints during August and September—traditionally high-crime months—to this campaign, codenamed “Mbata.”
Commanders acknowledge that progress on the streets remains fragile as long as the courts cannot process cases quickly.
Courts Under Pressure from Overcrowded Prisons
Magistrates report their dockets are clogged with defendants who cannot be transferred to already overcrowded prisons. The central facility in Brazzaville, designed for 600 inmates, now holds nearly triple that number according to transport warrant officials. Similar ratios prevail in Dolisie and Owando.
Since police station cells are not designed for long-term stays, a single night guard may monitor dozens of suspects in pre-trial detention.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledges this bottleneck and has commissioned a technical audit of prison capacity. Circulating proposals include modular detention wings near existing courthouses and the accelerated use of electronic ankle monitors for low-risk offenders—a tool already authorized by 2019 legislation.
Notorious Escape Reignites Debate
The case of Kouene Bissombolo Huberche, known as “50 Cents,” continues to dominate discussions. Having escaped from Madingou prison several months ago, he reappeared in Brazzaville where he faces allegations in the murder case of Alain Koumou Obambi in the La Frontière neighborhood, southwest of the capital.
No official report has yet detailed the circumstances of his escape. The case file is currently with the State Inspectorate, whose findings will be submitted to Parliament once judicial secrecy restrictions are lifted.
Judicial Reforms Gain Momentum
In response to growing public concern, the Justice Minister recently presented a roadmap combining infrastructure investment and procedural modernization. A budget line of 18 billion CFA francs for prison modernization is expected in the 2025 finance bill.
The plan also revives specialized fast-track courts for minor offenses, which have been inactive since the pandemic. By reducing pre-trial detention, officials hope to free up cell space and reduce paperwork for prosecutors.
Civil society groups welcome this initiative while insisting on parliamentary oversight. Several MPs from both sides of the Congo River support the suggestion to publish quarterly statistics on releases and escapes.
International partners have expressed support. A preliminary note from the European Union lists microfinance grants for post-prison reintegration, while the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is offering software to track cases nationwide.
Rebuilding Public Trust
For residents