Kinshasa, July 28th, 2026 (CPA).- A case of the rape of a minor has been adjourned on Tuesday by the Kinkole Children’s Court, in the east of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in order to rectify the procedures relating to the victim.
“The court is adjourning the rape case between the victim, Juvens Manzinga, and the child in conflict with the law, Mescha Yoto, for a fortnight, to the hearing on August 11th, 2026, with a firm order to the court clerk to regularise the proceedings regarding the victim. And this will take place in closed session,” has declared the presiding judge. And he added: “Regarding the status of the proceedings at the hearing on July 21st, 2026, the adjournment was agreed upon by both parties.” For his part, Mr Damien Niamanzila, legal representative of Yoto, the child in conflict with the law, in his reply, has asked the court to rule that the rape victim was in default, before retracting this and requesting an adjournment. “Given that the victim did not appear, nor did anyone on her behalf, we request an adjournment to allow the proceedings concerning her to be regularised,” he has added. In response to this request, the court has deemed it appropriate to set aside the default in accordance with criminal procedure and adjourn the case to a specific date, agreed upon by mutual consent with the court-appointed defence counsel, Niamanzila.