Rape resulting in pregnancy: court called upon to take provisional measures

Kinshasa,  August 7^th, 2025, (CPA), – The public prosecutor has asked on Thursday the juvenile court in Kinkole, East of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to speed up proceedings and take provisional measures in favour of a minor who has been the victim of rape resulting in pregnancy, during a hearing. ‘We ask the court to speed up the proceedings and take provisional measures on behalf of the rape victim who is pregnant,’ has declared the public prosecutor. This request stems from the fact that the lawyer for the rape victim who is pregnant has said that the family of the child in conflict with the law can cover all expenses related to the pregnancy.  On the other hand, the lawyer for the child in conflict with the law has argued that his client’s family had waived the expenses until the facts had been established. For his part, Mr Christian Beya, lawyer for Jemima Mujinga, the 15-year-old minor who was the victim of rape, has indicated that his client became pregnant by the child in conflict with the law after the sexual act. He has added that she had experienced discomfort, vomiting and loss of appetite. ‘It is the family of the child in conflict with the law who must bear all expenses pending the court’s decision on the merits,’ he has continued. Responding to these comments, Mr. Leon Mbuyamba, lawyer for the 16-year-old child in conflict with the law, Lukusa Lukusa, has argued that since the facts have not yet been established, his client is presumed innocent. ‘Therefore, we cannot do anything before the court’s decision,’ he has insisted. The court has decided to adjourn the case until August 14th for further investigation. CPA/