Title: Interference in the judicial system of Lubumbashi denounced by the IRDH
Introduction :
In an open letter addressed to the President of the Republic, the Research Institute for Human Rights (IRDH) denounces the interference of the provincial Minister of the Interior, Éric Muta, in an ongoing legal case in Lubumbashi. The IRDH also underlines the inaction of the High Court of the city, which violates the right to appeal. This file, which concerns activists of the party Together for the Republic, highlights the issues related to justice and politics in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Development :
In this case, three members of the Together for the Republic party, Kyungu Ntambwe, Tshikala Ngoy and Nkulu Kamunga, were convicted of criminal association. IRDH filed an appeal on June 6, 2023, but a month later the case has still not been fixed. This situation constitutes a violation of the right to appeal, according to the IRDH.
The IRDH implicates the provincial Minister of the Interior, Éric Muta, whom it accuses of controlling the situation to prevent the case from proceeding. The members concerned would be defectors from the political party Union of Federalists of Congo, to which Éric Muta belongs. This interference is perceived as an attempt to intimidate those who wish to leave Unafec.
The High Court of Lubumbashi defends itself by stating that the file is already at the registry and that it will be sent to the Court of Appeal the next day. The IRDH is thus invited to send its lawyers to follow the evolution of the case. For his part, Eric Mota does not react to the accusations against him.
Conclusion :
This case highlights the challenges facing justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Political interference in court cases is a major concern for IRDH, which defends human rights. We hope that this open letter to the President of the Republic will make it possible to move this case forward and guarantee the fairness and independence of the judicial system in the Democratic Republic of Congo.