Kinshasa, February 22nd, 2026 (CPA). – New magistrates of the 2025 cohort were urged on Saturday by the Minister of State, Minister in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, to demonstrate integrity, impartiality, probity and independence in the exercise of their profession, during the closing ceremony of their initial training held at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Addressing the graduates, Minister of State Guillaume Ngefa emphasized that the judicial career is marked by various trials and pressures, but must remain guided by the law and an enlightened conscience. “Integrity and probity constitute an essential functional requirement for the credibility of justice. Impartiality requires not only the absence of bias, but also the appearance of fairness, which are fundamental conditions for public trust. Independence, finally, is neither immunity nor privilege, but an institutional guarantee offered to citizens against any form of arbitrariness,” he stated. He further reminded the new magistrates that they may face pressure, attempts at influence, physical threats or various forms of inducement, stressing that such realities cannot justify abandoning the principles enshrined in their oath. According to the Minister of State, this new intake is part of the broader drive to modernize the justice system, including digital transformation, streamlining of procedures, faster case processing and greater transparency in judicial decisions, which are no longer optional but mandatory directives. He commended the role of the High Council of the Judiciary and the commitment of the trainers, who placed particular emphasis on ethics and professional conduct, recalling that technical competence cannot substitute for moral integrity. The Keeper of the Seals concluded by indicating that the forthcoming deployment of these magistrates will help address the acute shortage of judicial personnel observed in several jurisdictions across the country.
Magistrates called to uphold the values of the rule of law
For his part, the President of the High Council of the Judiciary, Dieudonné Kamuleta, expressed his determination to protect magistrates who will uphold the values of the rule of law. He assured that the Council will continue to fulfill its mission of safeguarding the independence of the judiciary and supporting magistrates throughout their careers. He also congratulated the Council’s executive bureau, the trainers and the financial partners for their contribution to the success of the training.
President Kamuleta disclosed that over the past two years, fifteen magistrates have been convicted in criminal proceedings, some of whom are currently serving their sentences, while others have escaped. He added that more than thirty new magistrates are currently appearing before the disciplinary chamber. The training, intended for 2,500 new magistrates, was delivered by 86 trainers across 31 modules at two sites, in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.