Rehabilitation of Godé Mpoy by the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeal: an unexpected twist
In a recent decision, the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeal reinstated Godefroid Mpoy as President of the Kinshasa Provincial Assembly (APK). A surprising decision which aroused strong reactions within the elected officials of Kinshasa.
However, when he should be resting following a 45-day convalescence prescribed by his attending physician, Godé Mpoy sent an injunction to Francis Tshibalabala, interim president of the APK, asking him to send the files of the Assembly at his home. A surprising request given the fact that Godé Mpoy did not respond to the invitation of the plenary leaving him two days to present his means of defense following the motion of disqualifications initiated by several elected officials.
Godé Mpoy’s request was rejected by Francis Tshibalabala, who pointed to the absence of official notification of Godé Mpoy’s rehabilitation by the Court of Appeal. In addition, Tshibalabala recalled that Godé Mpoy was in mental rest and in convalescence, which made it difficult to fulfill his request to receive all the documents of the Assembly.
This twist in the Godé Mpoy affair once again demonstrates the complex and tumultuous nature of Congolese politics. While the rehabilitation of Godé Mpoy by the Court of Appeal seemed to be an act without real significance, the elected representatives of the APK are demanding proof of his legitimacy before allowing his return to the presidency of the Assembly.
It remains to be seen how this case will evolve and whether Godé Mpoy will be able to prove his legitimacy and regain his seat at the head of the APK