Title: Restoring the image of justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo: the appeal of the Kinshasa judges
Introduction :
Justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces many challenges, particularly with regard to its image and its functioning. Following the reproaches formulated by the Head of State, the judges of the courts and tribunals of Kinshasa were called upon to restore this image and to improve the judicial system in the country. In this article, we will discuss the main measures proposed by the first president of the Court of Cassation to achieve this.
The role of judges in the moralization of the life of the magistrate:
During a working session with judges in Kinshasa, the first president of the Court of Cassation, David-Christophe Mukendi Musanga, stressed the importance for judges to be beyond reproach and not to have suspicious relations with litigants. He insisted on the fact that the judiciary must be free from all corruption and encouraged the heads of courts and tribunals to use disciplinary sanctions to fight against excesses.
Respect for the hierarchy and the rules of procedure:
David-Christophe Mukendi also deplored the non-respect of the start times of the hearings and the deadlines for the pronouncement of judgments and judgments. He insisted on the importance for the judges to conform to the hierarchy and to respect the established procedures. He also warned against the behavior of certain judges who ignore their superiors and write directly to the first president of the Court of Cassation.
The need to work within the country:
The first president of the Court of Cassation encouraged women magistrates to also work inside the country, in order to promote geographical balance and strengthen access to justice in all regions of the DRC. He underlined the importance of the balance between wisdom, prudence and science in the accomplishment of the missions of the judges.
Conclusion :
Restoring the image of justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a major challenge facing the judges of the courts and tribunals of Kinshasa. The measures proposed by the first president of the Court of Cassation, such as the moralization of the magistrate’s life, respect for the hierarchy and the rules of procedure, as well as the need to work inside the country, are all ways to improve the functioning of Congolese justice. It is now up to judges to implement these recommendations and contribute to the construction of a reliable and transparent judicial system