Kinshasa, October 7th, 2026 (CPA).- The Kinkole Children’s Court, located in N’djili, a municipality in eastern Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Wednesday withdrew from a murder case due to the accused having reached the age of majority.
“The court is facing difficulties in examining the murder case involving Lubila Munanga because two different dates appear on the two birth certificates bearing the identity of the alleged perpetrator. The court declares itself incompetent.
After verification and upon the advice of the public prosecutor, it has decided to transfer the case to the prosecution service for further investigation, so that the prosecution can determine which court has jurisdiction to try the alleged perpetrator of the murder,” said Florence Ngalula, presiding judge of the court. Lawyer Jean Tumba, representing Gannie Kalungu, a child in conflict with the law whose age remains uncertain, had asked the court to hear the case, arguing that his client is a minor.
“The child in conflict with the law was born in December 2009 and is still 17 years old. Article 110 of the Child Protection Law provides that, in cases of doubt regarding the age of a child, minority shall prevail.
Your court has jurisdiction; the child is still a minor. We want this case to be heard today before your court,” he said during the hearing.
For his part, lawyer Espoir Ombaku, representing Lubila Munanga, the deceased adult victim, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction based on the facts presented. “The murder took place in Masina municipality, in District 02, on 2 October 2026, in a hotel.
The child in conflict with the law was in a room at that hotel with my client, may his memory be blessed. After some time, the manager saw the girl trying to leave alone.
He wanted to check why the boy had not come out. When he entered the room, he found that the boy was already dead,” the lawyer said, before raising the issue of the alleged perpetrator’s age.
Gannie Kalungu is being tried for allegedly killing Lubila Munanga in a hotel on October 2nd, 2026, according to statements by her lawyers. She was arrested by the hotel manager, whose identity was not disclosed, in Masina municipality, District 02, when she was attempting to leave the hotel alone.
According to the lawyer, when questioned by the manager, the girl said that the boy had sent her outside to buy something.
As a precaution, the manager refused to let her leave, stressing that when they entered the room, they found a lifeless body, before calling the police. ACP/