Kinshasa, Oct. 29th, 2025 (CPA). – The adjutant Sarah Ebabi, who works in military intelligence, was sentenced on Wednesday to a one-year suspended prison sentence after posting a video of herself in military uniform on social media, during a hearing before the military court of Kinshasa-Gombe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
« The court finds that the offence of violating instructions charged against the defendant Sarah Ebabi is established in fact and in law, and finds her guilty, and therefore sentences her to twelve months’ of principal penal servitude for violation of orders, suspended for twelve months, as well as 500,000 Congolese francs in legal costs, » has declared Chief Magistrate Christian Safari, presiding judge. ‘The court notes that the defendant, who had contacted the photographer via the same social media channel, must necessarily have seen these guidelines. She has therefore tacitly consented to the publication of her video, which has gone viral. The photographer’s testimony is therefore not convincing,’ it has added. It has furthermore stated that ‘As a soldier working at military intelligence headquarters, her video could not have been published without her knowledge.’
Regarding the kiss given by the defendant to her partner, as seen in this video during their civil wedding ceremony, the court has noted that it was normal even in military uniform. However, it has noted the criminal nature of the fact that the defendant has displayed behaviour likely to expose herself to the public, disregarding the honour and dignity of the army. ‘The court notes that the defendant, through her behaviour during the hearing, i.e. her posture and gestures, sufficiently proves that she knew that this video was going to be published on social media, in particular showing little respect for the military uniform,’ has said the presiding judge Safari. ‘The court has found you guilty because the conditions under which you went to be photographed do not coincide or comply with the rules of military discipline as set out in military instructions,’ he has added.
At the previous hearing, the public prosecutor had requested a ten (10) year prison sentence for the defendant. The latter had accused her of posting a video of herself and her partner on social media, behaviour which, according to the military prosecutor’s office, violates the telegram from the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of DRC prohibiting this practice. CPA/