In a context where justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is described as “sick” by the Congolese president, the crucial question arises: Will justice be cured? The general assembly of this sector, recently launched in Kinshasa, aims to make a precise diagnosis in order to put in place corrective measures and thus restore the credibility of the Congolese judicial system. But to achieve real improvement, several challenges will have to be met.
The National Bar Association, Me Michel Shebele Makoba, stressed that reform alone is not the answer to the problems that persist in the justice sector in the DRC. He called on the government to play an active role in the economic and social reorganization of the country to allow a complete overhaul of the Congolese judicial system.
It is essential to demonstrate unwavering will and determination to establish a healthy and robust justice system through concrete actions. Judicial sector stakeholders must be fully involved in addressing the challenges facing the Congolese justice system, while reminding the State of its duty to reorganize the judiciary economically, socially and structurally in order to build a solid justice system for the future.
Beyond justice stakeholders, this reflection must also include consultation with different social categories, including litigants, who are the first victims of judicial dysfunctions. The Estates General of Justice offer an opportunity for public consultation open to all, in order to collect recommendations for improving the quality of justice in the DRC.
It is to be hoped that this work will make it possible to accurately diagnose the ills affecting the Congolese justice system and propose appropriate solutions to cure these chronic diseases. Nine years after the 2015 Estates General, it is time to renew this reflection to advance justice in the DRC and restore citizens’ confidence in their judicial system.
In short, the Estates General of Justice constitute a crucial step in the quest for fairer and more effective justice in the DRC. It is imperative that all stakeholders involved, including citizens, unite to propose innovative and sustainable solutions that will remedy the dysfunctions and restore confidence in the Congolese judicial institution.