National MP Edouard Mwangachuchu: life sentence by the High Military Court
A resounding news shakes the Congolese political scene. National deputy Edouard Mwangachuchu was sentenced to the maximum sentence by the High Military Court of Kinshasa. Arrested at the beginning of March, he was found guilty of illegal possession of weapons of war, participation in an insurrectional movement and treason.
The judgment rendered by the High Military Court this Friday, October 6, 2023 sentenced Edouard Mwangachuchu to life imprisonment. This decision follows months of investigation and deliberations. According to the president of the composition, the Court considered the facts as established and delivered an unequivocal verdict.
In addition to the life prison sentence, the national deputy will also have to pay a fine of 100,000,000 USD, payable in Congolese francs, as a civil liability. Furthermore, the Court ordered the confiscation of the illegal weapons found in Mwangachuchu’s possession, for the benefit of the Congolese State.
It should be noted that despite this conviction, the High Military Court did not rule on the forfeiture of Edouard Mwangachuchu’s mandate as national deputy, invoking the exclusive jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court in the matter.
Supporters of the convicted MP continue to proclaim his innocence and denounce a trial based on political motivations. According to their version, this affair would be a maneuver aimed at seizing a coltan mine operated by the mining company SMB.
In this same case, another defendant, Chief Commissioner Robert Mushamalirwa, was acquitted by the High Military Court. He was accused of complicity in the illegal possession of the weapons of war found. This decision raises questions about the credibility and consistency of the charges against Mwangachuchu.
In the physical absence of Edouard Mwangachuchu during the verdict, the situation remains tense and provokes strong reactions from his supporters and observers of the Congolese political scene. The next few days will be decisive for the future of the convicted national deputy and for the evolution of the political situation in the country.