Keep up to date with the latest events with our DRC news article. This week, attention is turned to the question of the nationality of the defendant Édouard Mwangachuchu during his trial before the High Military Court.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the debates focused on the Covid test documents presented by the defendant which attribute to him two different nationalities. Mwangachuchu’s lawyers argue that the High Court cannot use a Covid test as proof of nationality, while Congolese passports are available on file.
According to Me Thomas Gamakolo, defense lawyer, the first test presented by the prosecution indicates that Mwangachuchu is of Rwandan nationality. However, the defendant claims to have carried out two tests upon his arrival. The first test, called RDT, was not accepted to board the plane and Mwangachuchu was sent to perform a second test. The lawyers point to an administrative error, because there are two different identifiers in the tests. They believe that if the defendant had kept the same identifier, the same information concerning his nationality would have been provided, thus avoiding this confusion.
Furthermore, the defense argues that possession of Congolese passports constitutes strong evidence of Mwangachuchu’s nationality, beyond the Covid test.
The charges against Mwangachuchu and his co-defendant relate to their alleged link with the M23 rebels. They are prosecuted for treason, participation in an insurrectionary movement, espionage and illegal possession of weapons of war. These prosecutions follow the discovery, by the military intelligence services, of weapons of war in the residence of Mwangachuchu in Kinshasa, as well as in the premises of his company SMB in Masisi, in North Kivu.
The outcome of this highly publicized trial remains uncertain, with ongoing debates over the nationality of the defendant and his alleged involvement with the M23 rebels. The High Military Court will have to carefully consider all the evidence before issuing its final verdict.
Stay informed of developments in this case by following our blog. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest updates and analysis on this hot topic in the DRC.