Kinshasa, April 28th, 2026 (CPA).- The public prosecutor has called on Tuesday, the High Court of N’djili, in the east of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to verify whether the claimants in the estate distribution proceedings (sharing) are entitled to the succession of the deceased, during a hearing. “I ask the court to carry out this verification in order to ascertain whether the claimants in the auction are indeed the children of the deceased Emmanuel Pembele, by examining evidence such as the will, the act of donation, witness statements, and testimony from family members, friends of the deceased and even neighbours. You must be fully informed in order to decide between the parties,” has declared the public prosecutor in his opinion.
According to him, this request arises from the fact that, on the one hand, people are asking for the deceased’s assets to be divided, whilst on the other hand, the status of the applicants is not recognised. For his part, Lawyer Michel Omandje, lawyer for the plaintiffs Mbala Zikondi and Antoine Mavinga, has argued that his clients no longer wish to remain in joint ownership; they are seeking the division of the assets left by their father. “We are requesting the auction of all the assets left by our father, Pembele. We ask the court to order the auction of this matrimonial estate, as the law provides that anyone wishing to leave the joint ownership may apply to the court; this is the purpose of the application to your court,” has noted Lawyer Omandje.
In his reply, Lawyer Jean-Marie Otshudi, lawyer for the defendants Antoine Mavingidi and Victor Mbala, has said that his clients do not recognise them as their brothers, before refusing to consent to the division of the assets. “We wish to inform the Court that the claimants who have brought this matter before you lack legitimacy, as they are not the children of the late Mr Pembele. We do not recognise them; unless they provide you with evidence, the father has never declared them during his lifetime. You will declare this action admissible but unfounded, » he has added. The court has decided to first summon the family members of the late Pembele to give their evidence.