The event of the Estates General of Justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo arouses particular interest and raises essential questions about the state of justice in the country.
Initially scheduled for a fixed duration, the closing of this event was postponed by 72 hours, a choice aimed at giving more time to participants to deepen their reflections and formulate more substantial proposals. This decision, announced by the Minister of State in charge of Justice, Constant Mutamba, illustrates the desire to include a greater number of stakeholders in these crucial debates.
President Félix Tshisekedi himself encourages this inclusive approach, considering that it strengthens transparency and allows a broader expression of the problems related to Congolese justice. He invited participants to fully engage in the reflection workshops, thus emphasizing the importance of this collective reflection to improve the country’s judicial system.
However, despite the laudable objectives of the Estates General of Justice, discordant voices have been heard. Several magistrates’ unions expressed their skepticism about the effective implementation of the announced measures. These unions criticized the lack of representativeness of certain key judicial actors in the organization of the event, as well as the weak support for magistrates from the provinces. In addition, the time allocated to the debates was deemed insufficient for an in-depth analysis of the many issues facing Congolese justice.
Faced with these criticisms, it is clear that the success of the Estates General of Justice will depend on the ability of the participants to put aside partisan interests and focus on the real problems of justice in the DRC. It is essential that these debates do not turn into a simple political platform, but that they result in concrete and effective proposals for in-depth reform of the Congolese judicial system.
In short, the Estates General of Justice in the DRC represent a unique opportunity to rethink and strengthen the functioning of justice in the country. However, they require a real desire for action and involvement on the part of all stakeholders concerned in order to achieve concrete and lasting changes.