Kinshasa, January 8th, 2026 (CPA): Fifty-four (54) urban bandits commonly known as ‘Kuluna’ have been judged in flagrante delicto proceedings at the Matete military garrison court during a mobile court hearing held at Camp Kabila in the centre of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “The defendants number more than 50, and not all of them have been identified today. The court has decided to adjourn for today and continue tomorrow with the investigation to see if we have enough time to identify all 54 defendants in front of us, » has declared Colonel Mongomba, president of the Matete garrison military court. During the hearing, Deputy Chief Superintendent Jean-Rene Mulenga has specified that he had been attacked by this outlaw on January 5th, 2025, at Camp Kabila in Lemba, who had wounded him with machetes, causing him to lose feeling in his right arm. And he added: ‘One of them had told him he would see, because he thinks he is a strong person.’ For his part, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Olivier Mubiala has told the court that last Sunday, on his way back from a New Year’s celebration; three thugs carrying machetes had attacked him in Lemba, before stealing his telephone, money and a Motorola. In addition, a third civil party, Mr Franck Esaka, father of a lawyer who died after being attacked by the kuluna, has explained to the court that his son was struck on the head with a machete before being robbed of everything he had on December 3rd, 2025. « It was on December 3rd, 2025 that my son was attacked by three kuluna. They have taken all of his belongings (his gown, his lawyer’s card, more than $4,500). He has been struck with a machete on the thigh and head. He has suffered internal bleeding as a result of his injuries and died on December 29th, » he has explained.
Previously, the court had issued a preliminary ruling on its lack of jurisdiction to try the defendant Daniel Otshaka, due to his minority age, and referred him to the judge with territorial jurisdiction. « On this basis, in accordance with the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo (…), the court declares itself incompetent to try the sole defendant Daniel Otshaka on the grounds of his minority age, and refers him to the judge with territorial jurisdiction. It declares itself competent to try the defendants Tshalu and Vemba Lusaka, » has pronounced Colonel Magistrate Mongomba. It should be noted that the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior, Jacquemin Shabani, and the Minister in charge of Justice, Guillaume Ngefa, were present at the opening of this itinerant court hearing.