The President of the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dieudonné Kamuleta, recently announced a postponement in the Bukanga Lonzo trial which pits former minister Augustin Matata Ponyo and his co-accused against the public prosecutor.
This decision was taken to allow the Court to adequately prepare for the handling of disputes relating to the results of the elections scheduled for December 20. The Court does not wish to disrupt its normal and constitutional functioning during this crucial election period.
According to Dieudonné Kamuleta, the work of processing disputes over the election results should end on March 11, 2024. Consequently, the judgment in the Bukanga Lonzo case is postponed until March 18, 2024, a few days after the end of this process. electoral disputes.
This postponement comes less than a week before the start of the electoral campaign, which is scheduled for November 19 according to the electoral calendar of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
It should be noted that Augustin Matata Ponyo, despite accusations of embezzlement in the context of the Bukanga Lonzo Agro-industrial park project, was confirmed as a candidate for the presidential election scheduled for December 20.
This postponement of the judgment in the Bukanga Lonzo case raises questions about the impact on the progress of the trial and on the upcoming presidential election. The decision of the Constitutional Court to postpone this case demonstrates the importance given to the electoral process and disputes linked to the results.
It remains to be observed how this situation will develop and what the impacts will be on the political and legal stability of the country. The DRC is going through a crucial period with upcoming elections, and the outcome of this trial could have major repercussions on the country’s political landscape.