Justice in DRC: collaboration between the judiciary and the ministry envisaged for good administration

Kinshasa, June 25^th, 2025 (CPA).- Collaboration in the interests of good administration of justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been envisaged between the interim minister Samuel Mbemba and a magistrates’ union, according to a video posted on Wednesday on the ministry’s X account. ‘We have responded to the invitation from the Minister in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, and it was important for him, as he is now the head of the ministry, to make contact with those involved in the justice system,’ has said Edmond Isofa, public prosecutor and president of the Independent Union of Magistrates of Congo (Synamac). ‘He was with members of the office of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM), where the consultation framework has been reactivated, and today he has received us and our discussions with him focused on establishing a consultation framework with magistrates’ unions and magistrates’ representatives and considering with him a frank collaboration in the interests of the proper administration of justice,’ he has added. On Monday June 9^th, 2025, a consultation framework had been held between members of the office of the High Council of the Judiciary and Deputy Minister Samuel Mbemba, currently acting for Constant Mutamba, who resigned due to legal proceedings. During this meeting, chaired by the Attorney General of the Constitutional Court and First Vice-President of the CSM, John-Prospere Moke, a single item had been on the agenda: the coordinated judicial response to the resurgence of armed robberies and thefts in the city of Kinshasa. Taking the floor, Minister Mbemba had informed the body of the President of the Republic’s desire, as the supreme magistrate, to put an end to this scourge that is disturbing the peace of the inhabitants of Kinshasa. He had noted that three ministries had been instructed on this matter, namely the Interior, Defence and Justice, to work closely together to eradicate this phenomenon. He had also informed them that his ministry would work in consultation with the judiciary to organise urgent public hearings in order to severely punish the perpetrators of these crimes. He had said that those convicted should be transferred to prisons outside Kinshasa. On the other hand, the CSM office had identified certain causes underlying this situation of insecurity, in particular the poor implementation of the policy to reduce prison overcrowding through the execution of countless ministerial decrees granting conditional release to prisoners who did not meet the required conditions. They had also advised against obtaining orders granting exceptional presidential pardons to certain defendants.  They had also noted as an obstacle the sudden ban on transferring remand prisoners to Makala prison without providing alternative measures to hold those who are arrested every day. ACP/