Currently, judicial management in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and more particularly in the Ituri province, raises legitimate questions. Indeed, the recent inspection mission led by the First President of the Ituri Court of Appeal, Emmanuel Shamavu, highlighted a number of irregularities and dubious practices within the judicial institutions of this region.
During his mission, Emmanuel Shamavu highlighted major problems in the management of judicial revenues. He noted worrying anomalies, in particular cases where the references of the DGRAD collection notes and bank payment slips were not correctly entered. These shortcomings, which may be similar to embezzlement, raise legitimate questions about the integrity of the judicial system in place.
Furthermore, the First President denounced the recurrent and unjustified referrals of cases by the courts, particularly in cases affecting public order. Situations where cases have been postponed multiple times, up to twenty times, highlight a major dysfunction in the judicial system. Indeed, such excessive postponements can lead to serious consequences, such as the statute of limitations for offences, thus depriving victims of their right to justice.
Faced with these alarming findings, Emmanuel Shamavu launched an urgent call for strict observance of the law and instructions by all actors involved in the Ituri judicial system. He stressed the responsibility of judges and called for collective awareness to improve the image of justice in the province.
Ultimately, the conclusions of this inspection mission highlight the urgent need for in-depth reforms within the Ituri judicial system. A reform that must be structured around the principles of integrity, efficiency and transparency, to guarantee all citizens fair and impartial access to justice.