MONUSCO equips Beni prison with security materials amid local tensions

The urban prison in Beni, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, received a significant boost to its security infrastructure on Monday, June 15. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) donated a batch of essential security equipment aimed at improving the safety of both inmates and prison personnel.

The provided materials are diverse and crucial for the prison's daily operations and surveillance. They include safety mirrors and metal detectors for controlling movement, lampposts for illuminating strategic areas, fire extinguishers for fire prevention, and personal protective equipment to shield guards from adverse weather conditions. This modern security apparatus is intended to bolster the facility's defenses against the backdrop of a tense local security situation marked by resurgent armed group activity within Beni city.

The director of Beni's central prison, Tsongo Makelele, expressed his gratitude, stating that the donation will fundamentally transform and enhance the effectiveness of the internal security system. "I assure you that this security material will contribute to the improvement of the security of the penitentiary establishment itself. It is in this sense that we sincerely thank MONUSCO, which has just supported us with an important donation of security material," he said.

This latest contribution is not an isolated event but rather a continuation of a long-standing partnership. The Beni urban prison has previously benefited from substantial support from MONUSCO. Past projects include the construction of a perimeter fence, the installation of surveillance cameras for real-time monitoring, the establishment and equipping of a modern infirmary, and the electrification of the women's detention block using solar panels. The current donation is part of MONUSCO's "provision of security equipment for priority prisons in the DRC" project, which also targets detention centers in Ndolo and Makala in Kinshasa, as well as Bunia in Ituri province.