Absence of judges in the courts of the province of Maniema: a crisis of justice denounced by the local NGO Haki za Binadamu. In a poignant statement, the organization’s executive secretary, Raphaël Upelele Lokenga, highlighted the critical situation in Maniema’s courts, plunging litigants into a denial of justice.
According to him, the absence of judges in the courts, particularly the magistrates’ courts and the high courts, leads to a worrying dysfunction in the judicial system. Pending criminal cases are piling up, leaving citizens without recourse in the face of injustices.
This paralysis of justice not only compromises individuals’ access to their fundamental rights, but also risks leading to a loss of confidence in judicial institutions. Indeed, how can we believe in a justice system that cannot pass judgment due to lack of magistrates to sit?
Raphaël Upelele Lokenga is sounding the alarm, denouncing a real state of denial of justice that the inhabitants of Maniema are facing. He calls on the competent authorities to act quickly by assigning a sufficient number of judges to each jurisdiction in the province, in order to restore the functioning of the courts and guarantee access to fair justice for all.
This urgent situation reveals the critical importance of an effective justice system in protecting citizens’ rights and preserving the rule of law. It is imperative that those responsible take concrete measures to remedy this crisis of justice which threatens the very foundations of democracy and society.
In short, the situation of the Maniema courts calls for the need to strengthen the independence and resources allocated to the judiciary, in order to ensure equitable access to justice for all citizens of the province.