The High Council of the Judiciary is at the heart of the debates in Kinshasa during the work of the Estates General of Justice. The reflections focus in particular on the restructuring of this key body and on the independence of the magistrates of the prosecution service. On the second day of this work, the constitutionalist professor and national deputy André Mbata made interesting reform recommendations. He suggested that the Head of State become the president of this body, emphasizing that justice should not be exclusively in the hands of the magistrates, but should be a concern of the whole of society.
Another important point of view was expressed by the national deputy Lambert Mende, who stressed the need for the High Council of the Judiciary to stop behaving like a union and to position itself as a central institution of the Republic. He insisted on the importance for this body to serve the general interest rather than corporatist interests.
In another context, the policy of US President Donald Trump on the crisis in eastern DRC is put into perspective in relation to that of his Democratic successor Joe Biden. Expectations are high regarding a possible evolution of this policy under the new administration.
Furthermore, the Congolese government has been praised for its efforts in terms of respect for human rights, according to the national human rights report presented by the Congolese delegation at the 47th session of the periodic review working group in Geneva. Progress has been noted, but challenges remain and require continued vigilance.
Finally, the issue of the 2025 budget, estimated at around $18 billion, raises questions about its ability to respond to the social challenges of the DRC. Experts point to the need to prioritize certain expenditures to ensure a positive impact on the population.
In view of these major issues, the current debates around the reform of the High Council of the Judiciary seem to be at the heart of concerns to guarantee an independent and effective justice system in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The divergent positions of political actors and civil society underline the importance of finding a balance to strengthen the rule of law and promote respect for fundamental rights.