**The Pelé Mongo case: When justice tramples on individual freedom**
The case of Congolese entrepreneur Mboyo Ilombe, better known as Pelé Mongo, has recently sparked a wave of indignation within the legal community and human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His ordeal, consisting of prolonged detention despite an acquittal by the Kinshasa-Gombe Peace Court, raises essential questions about the respect of judicial decisions and the protection of individual freedoms.
The Centre for Legal Reflection to Combat Impunity (CRJLI) has strongly denounced the situation of Pelé Mongo, who is still being held against all logic in Makala Central Prison, even though he was found not guilty due to lack of evidence. This prolonged detention, despite a favorable verdict, calls into question the very foundations of the rule of law and the separation of powers.
The intervention of the Minister of Justice, necessary for the release of Pelé Mongo, raises legitimate questions about the independence of the judiciary and possible political pressures. The CRJLI coordinator, Franck Kalolo, called for a reaction from the President of the Republic to ensure compliance with judicial decisions and preserve the integrity of the Congolese judicial system.
The rebellion of the interim Director of the central prison of Kinshasa against the court decision constitutes an affront to the rule of law and an attack on fundamental rights. Franck Kalolo plans to initiate legal proceedings so that justice is done and Pelé Mongo finally regains his freedom, undermined by arbitrary and unjustified detention.
Beyond the individual case of Pelé Mongo, this case highlights the persistent challenges to respect for human rights and the rule of law in the DRC. The Congolese authorities are thus faced with the imperative of guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary, respect for judicial decisions and the protection of individual freedoms, essential foundations of a democratic society that respects human rights.
In conclusion, the Pelé Mongo case recalls the need for constant vigilance to preserve the integrity of the judicial system and protect individual freedoms against all forms of arbitrariness and political interference. Only an independent justice system that respects the principles of the rule of law can guarantee fairness and the protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens, in the DRC as elsewhere.