In an op-ed published by the French newspaper Le Monde, 75 Nobel laureates, including Dr. Denis Mukwege, urge the international community to take immediate action to end what they describe as the "Congolese tragedy", marked by more than three decades of war, extreme violence and persistent impunity.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing one of the deadliest conflicts since the Second World War, with around 6 million people killed. Added to this are more than 26 million people facing acute hunger, 7.8 million internally displaced persons and a growing recourse to sexual violence, particularly against children. The article denounces global silence and inaction in the face of this massive crisis.

The text explicitly accuses Rwanda, and in particular its support for the M23 rebel group, of fueling the war by plundering Congo's natural resources. Since the resurgence of the M23 in 2021, some 4,000 Rwandan soldiers have invaded eastern DRC, seizing areas rich in minerals. Today, this occupation forces over 10 million Congolese to live in fear.

The signatories denounce a "double standard" in international diplomacy: according to them, the Rwandan aggression is tolerated, while rapid sanctions have been imposed in other conflicts, such as the one in Ukraine. They question the value placed on the lives of African populations in the current international order.

The United Nations Mapping Report published in 2010 already documented the crimes committed between 1993 and 2003. Since then, the violence has never ceased, deploding the authors. The UN's humanitarian plan for 2025 is only 8.2% funded, making the DRC one of the world's most neglected crises.

Sexual violence against children has reached an unprecedented level, with almost 10,000 cases reported in two months. In some regions, a victim is recorded every 30 minutes.

The Nobel Prize winners are calling for the immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 2773, which demands an unconditional ceasefire, the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to support for the M23. They are also calling for the organization of an international conference for peace in the DRC, aimed at creating a platform for sustainable dialogue, including women and young people.

Finally, they are calling for the creation of an international tribunal to judge the crimes committed, on the basis of the Mapping report. For, they say, "justice must be at the heart of any lasting peace".

"We all have a piece of the Congo in our pockets", they remind us, pointing out that the minerals extracted in the DRC are essential to the manufacture of smartphones, computers and electric vehicles. In their view, the Congolese question is also a global issue, one of justice, peace and collective responsibility.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

The Union Nationale de la Presse du Congo (UNPC) reacted on Thursday to the decision by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication (CSAC) to suspend media coverage of the activities of the Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD) and its members throughout the country. By Act Number 006/B/06/025 of June 2, 2025, the CSAC suspended, as a precautionary measure, media coverage of the activities of the Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie (PPRD) and its members for a period of 90 days throughout the country. Its president, Christian Bosembe, had even said that it was forbidden to mention Joseph Kabila's name on a popular Kinshasa radio program.

In an official statement signed by its president Kamanda wa Kamanda Muzembe, the UNPC expresses its "serious reservations" about what it describes as an authoritarian drift, denouncing unilateral regulation that seriously compromises freedom of expression and the press in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The self-regulatory organization of professional journalists stresses that media regulation is first and foremost a philosophical principle based on freedom. It specifies that regulation cannot be preventive or arbitrary, but must intervene in a posteriori and not a priori, to remain in line with democratic standards.

"A priori regulation is censorship without a name. Journalists and the media cannot put up with censorship and the resulting inquisition", declares the UNPC.

The press release questions the role that the CSAC seems to want to take on, that of hindering press freedom by assimilating journalists to dangerous actors. Such a position, according to the UNPC, runs counter to the national drive for cohesion and peace, particularly at a time when the DRC is facing serious security crises, especially in the east of the country.

"Why should the media and journalists be seen as carriers of arms and ammunition, when they are often the only witnesses to the tragedies that befall our compatriots?" asks the organization.

Refusing to hand over journalists "to the fury of a maximalist approach", the UNPC calls on the CSAC to show discernment. The organization calls for balanced regulation, respectful of fundamental rights and adapted to democratic imperatives.

She also urged media professionals to show restraint and professionalism, recalling the importance of their role in defending the truth, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Written by Noé Kalemeko

As of mid-2025, robbery and swindling remain significant concerns in Kinshasa, driven by a combination of socio-economic challenges, gang calls "Kuluna" activities, and limited law enforcement capacity. The latest case is that of burglars who attacked money changers at the University of Kinshasa on Friday afternoon, May 30, 2024. So far, the toll is not yet known. The modus operandi of these bandits has always been the same, or almost.

For today at the University of Kinshasa

According to several witnesses interviewed on the spot, the thugs first tried to attack a bank branch located within the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, before redirecting their attack to the informal exchange offices set up not far from the university police station, in the area commonly known as "Trafic". "They fired several shots into the air. Two students were wounded in the panic. The moneychangers were robbed of almost 7,000 US dollars", says a 2nd year law student, still in shock.

Urban Crime and Gangs

Street-level crime in Kinshasa is often attributed to gangs known as Kulunas or urban bandits.  These groups engage in violent robberies, extortion, and assaults, frequently targeting homes, shops, and public spaces.  They are particularly active in neighborhoods such as Ngiri-Ngiri, Ngaba, Kalamu, Matete, and Kisenso, where they operate with machetes and other weapons  .

In response to the escalating crime, the Congolese government has intensified its crackdown on urban gangs.  In December 2024, Operation “Ndobo” led to the arrest of 450 individuals across Kinshasa, with many facing swift trials and severe sentences, including the death penalty .

Swindling and Robbery Tactics

Swindlers in Kinshasa employ various deceptive tactics to exploit both locals and foreigners:

• Taxi-related robberies: Criminals pose as taxi drivers or passengers, luring victims into vehicles and then robbing them, often under the threat of violence.
• Scams involving fake goods: Individuals offer counterfeit or non-existent products, such as gold or diamonds, at attractive prices, only to defraud buyers.
• Impersonation of authorities: Fraudsters pose as police or security personnel to intimidate victims into compliance.

Written by Patient Igunzi

The National Assembly has taken a decisive step in a case that is shaking the top of the Congolese judiciary. The Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Constant Mutamba, is officially handed over to the courts following a vote in plenary on Thursday 29th, authorizing the opening of a judicial investigation against him.

It all started with the reading of the report by the special commission set up to examine the indictment filed by the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Maître Firmin Mvunde. The latter requested authorization to open a judicial investigation into the Minister of State. After a heated debate, the report was declared admissible by the majority of MPs present, paving the way for unprecedented legal proceedings against a senior member of the government in office.

According to the public prosecutor, Constant Mutamba exerted "strong pressure" on the deputy director general of the Direction Générale du Contrôle des Marchés Publics (DGCMP), threatening her in order to obtain approval for a contract awarded to a fictitious, non-existent company before the year 2024.

Worse still, he is accused of having ordered the release of 39 million US dollars, bypassing several essential stages of the procedure. This disbursement was allegedly made without the prior approval of the Prime Minister, Judith Suminwa, whose authorization has yet to be found.

For his part, Constant Mutamba has previously categorically rejected these accusations, while emphasizing that he will not appear before the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to defend himself.

He rejects all the charges against him. "The Attorney General is determined to get rid of me at all costs, because I am fighting against cheating and greed at the head of the Court of Cassation," he told the press. The minister defended his action as a commitment to far-reaching reform of the justice system, despite, he said, the resistance and threats of an entrenched system.

"I am demonstrating bravery in the face of threats from those who are against the reform I am bringing to justice", he hammered.

He also asserted that the public tender signed for the construction of the prison was authorized in accordance with the law, and that the absence of any reaction from the competent authority within the required timeframe was tantamount to tacit approval.

The plenary vote opens an uncertain judicial page for Constant Mutamba, who will now have to answer to the Congolese justice system. This case could ultimately reshuffle the judicial and political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo. All eyes are now on what happens next.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

In the midst of a ceasefire, the M23-AFC rebels continue to conquer new entities, notably in the Walikale territory in North Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Since Monday May 26, villages such as Bukumbirwa, Rusamambu, Kilambo and Ngengere in the Muronga locality have come under rebel control, following fighting with Wazalendo resistance fighters in the area. Local sources reported that the rebels launched attacks against positions controlled by Wazalendo resistance fighters in Muronga, forcing them to retreat towards Misimbi, located several kilometers from Rusamambu, an entity which also fell into rebel hands on Tuesday.

A few weeks ago, Walikale civil society warned of a build-up of men and ammunition by the AFC/M23 rebels in this part of Walikale territory. This advance by the AFC/M23 towards other areas violates the ceasefire decreed to allow the various peace processes underway to come to a successful conclusion with a view to putting an end to the conflict, laments local notables.

The immediate ceasefire agreed with the Congolese government as part of the Doha peace process in Qatar is struggling to materialize on the ground. The Doha ceasefire is the fifth such agreement, but none has yet held. All these measures put in place have not been followed by coercive directives against the party accused of violation, leaving the two opposing parties free to shoot at each other and later accuse each other.

Written by Safari Baguma

In an eagerly-awaited address, Joseph Kabila delivered a harsh diagnosis of the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while unveiling the broad outlines of a project to rebuild the country. The former president denounced the shortcomings of Félix Tshisekedi's regime, before threatening to respond to the situation like a soldier.

The Senator for Life began by accusing his successor, Félix Tshisekedi, without mentioning him by name. "With a heavy heart, I note that barely six years later, this beautiful undivided inheritance, bequeathed to all our people, has been completely squandered by the man who was entrusted with it; that our country offers a most distressing spectacle; and that it arouses all the more despair among our people, and pity and mockery throughout the world, as the recklessness of its leaders offers no hope of recovery," said Joseph Kabila Kabange.

The lifting of his immunities

The timing of this address is particularly sensitive. The day before, the Congolese Senate lifted Mr. Kabila's immunity, paving the way for prosecution on serious charges: treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"A few days ago, following a simple rumor in the street or on social networks, about my alleged presence in Goma, where I will be going in the next few days, as announced elsewhere, the regime in power in Kinshasa took arbitrary decisions with disconcerting lightness, which testifies to the spectacular decline of democracy in our country," he says.

Although he did not mention this issue directly, he did criticize the upper house of parliament and the legislative power as a whole.

His 12-point recovery plan

Against this backdrop, Joseph Kabila has proposed a national recovery program, based on twelve objectives, including ending the dictatorship, putting an end to the war, re-establishing the authority of the State, restoring democracy, national reconciliation, relaunching development and withdrawing foreign troops from Congolese territory. But he did not explain what status and means he would use to implement his plan, which he considers vital to the survival of the DRC as a country.

Kabila: the soldier who will take over the army?

Kabila is not taking kindly to his successor, and is making a series of thinly veiled threats against Félix Tshisekedi's regime. First of all, he coaxed the Congolese military by saying that "Having trained them, commanded them and led them to the front, I know our soldiers. Scapegoats, today, for all the counter-performances recorded on the battlefield, they are not, however, intrinsically less good, less nationalistic or less loyal. What has changed in the meantime is the quality of their command and management.

He went on to clearly state his intention to do away with the current tenant of the "palais de la nation", the official office of the Congolese head of state. "As a soldier, I swore to defend my country to the supreme sacrifice. Yesterday in power, today out of power, I remain more faithful than ever to this oath" says the former president of the DRC between 2001 and 2019.

This speech, seen as a turning point in Kabila's posture, raises many questions about his future intentions. Does he want to return to being a central player on the Congolese political scene? Only time will tell.

Written By Akilimali Chomachoma

Former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years' hard labor, 5 years' ineligibility and immediate arrest by the Constitutional Court, which sits in first and last instance.

The Congolese High Court also ordered the seizure of his assets. He was found guilty of embezzling 156,849,413 US dollars. His two co-defendants, the former governor of the Central Bank of Congo (BCC), Deogratias Mutombo, and the head of the South African company Africom, Christo Grobler Stéphanus, were each sentenced to five years' imprisonment

Bukanga Lonzo: the so-called "revolutionary" park in Matata:

With technical and financial support from the World Bank, the Congolese government opted in 2013-2014 to promote agro-industry or industrial agriculture through the implementation of twenty agro-industrial parks. Within this framework, the Bukanga-Lonzo park, in the Kwango province not far from Kinshasa, was to serve as a pilot project.

The Bukanga Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park project straddles two provinces, Kwango and Kwilu, and covers two territories: Kenge and Bagata. The site identified for straddles the sectors of Bukanga-lonzo and Wamba and covers an area of around 80,000 ha. Initiated in 2014, this Bukanga-Lonzo project was completely halted in 2018 by the Congolese government because it was becoming a money pit. This is the project that will stick to Matata Ponyo's skin, the man known as the "rigorous man in the red tie" will then be called "the man who planted corn in Bandundu and harvested a university in Kindu".

Embezzlement of public funds:

First of all, the embezzlement of over $156 million, in conjunction with Christo Grobler Stéphanus. Of the $279 million disbursed by the Public Treasury, only $34 million was actually allocated to the activities of the Bukanga-Lonzo agro-industrial park", says the Constitutional Court.

Then, with Deogratias Mutombo, the misappropriation of $89 million that had been allocated to the construction of the Kinshasa International Market, attached to the Bukanga Lonzo project. The Constitutional Court also ordered the confiscation of their assets in proportion to the sums embezzled.

Between a political trial and untouchable politicians:

Matata Ponyo also denounced a violation of his parliamentary immunity, as he has been a member of the National Assembly since the 2023 elections. In response, the Court argued that his immunity as a senator had been lifted before the last legislative elections.

"The jurist will always wonder how a National Deputy is not judged by his natural judge and how a former Prime Minister is judged by his natural judge, but without a double authorization of prosecution and impeachment from Congress" says Ngondankoy Paul-gaspard, Professor of Public Law at the University of Kinshasa National Deputy Judge at the Council of State.

https://x.com/NgondankoyG/status/1924863140606431576?t=czes-q_AWLTmrHt5QyRTaQ&s=19

While some people see this as a case of vindictiveness, others point to the financial delinquency of Congo's politicians.

"The Bukanga Lonzo project is just the tip of the iceberg of systemic corruption, facilitated by poor governance in the DRC; a phenomenon that has continued to take on stratospheric proportions, particularly since the current administration came to power," says Christian Magabo, a political analyst. "Immunities protect people who are accountable to the nation for their management of the country. It's out of the question for politicians to continue to use this to escape justice. But everyone has to answer, including those from the ruling party," says a journalist in Kinshasa, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

Senate President Lukonde Sama has sent an invitation to former president Joseph Kabila for a "working session with the special commission" that is ruling on the lifting of his immunities and the authorization of proceedings against him. His appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

He will come to defend himself against accusations by the military justice system of collaboration with a terrorist group. At last count, Joseph Kabila is between South Africa and Namibia. It's hard to know whether he'll accept this invitation. The upper house of the Congolese parliament offers him the possibility of being represented by his lawyers, according to the invitation letter.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) are once again shaken by a case of embezzlement. The commander of the 11ᵉ brigade issued an alert in a communiqué on Sunday, May 18, concerning the disappearance of funds intended for the payment of the salaries of soldiers engaged on the front in the south of South Kivu province.

In a fax sent to the various heads of military units in the region, the brigade commander asked anyone spotting the alleged embezzler, Colonel Nkulu Kilenge Delphin, to arrest him and hand him over to the nearest military prosecutor's office. The document states that the officer's escape was noted before the payment operation was launched a few days ago.

This embezzlement comes at a time of fighting between the FARDC and Wazalendo fighters and M23 rebels in the region. When contacted, the spokesman for the Sokola Sud operations confirmed the facts, without however providing any further details. Colonel Nkulu Kilenge Delphin, the alleged hijacker, is currently on the run.

The impact of this case goes far beyond the judicial framework. For the soldiers on the front line, deprived of their pay, it is the recognition of their sacrifices that is called into question. Many observers believe that this kind of practice dangerously undermines cohesion within the armed forces, at a time when unity is essential.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

Several members of the government are implicated in a project to build a new prison in Kisangani. If this involves several ministries of the Judith Suminwa government, the citation of the Minister of Justice, who had set himself up as the man who fights corruption, is the most surprising. What we know so far:

The Cellule Nationale des Renseignements Financiers (CENAREF) has decided to block a sum of 19.9 million US dollars, initially earmarked for the launch of construction work on a prison in Kisangani, capital of Tshopo province. This action follows suspicions of financial embezzlement.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Adler Kisula Betika Yeye, Executive Secretary and First Advocate General of the Court of Cassation, stated that a payment had been made to ZION CONSTRUCTION SARL for the launch of the works. This payment was made on April 16, 2025, into an account opened one day earlier at RAWBANK, a private bank operating in DRC.

In a note, the Ministry of Finance clarified that no funds have been disbursed to finance the project to build a prison in Kisangani, contrary to what is being spread on social networks.

"No payment has been made, either by the Treasury or from an account under its management, in connection with a project to build a prison in Kisangani, as spread on social networks". He goes on to say: "This matter has not been dealt with in any way by the Ministry of Finance".

He believes that if the work had been financed, the payment process would have taken place in another financial structure not under the supervision of the Ministry, given that "in our country, there are bank accounts dedicated to specific projects and special accounts, which do not come under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Finance". 

In response to these accusations, Minister Mutamba's office denounced what it described as a cabal aimed at undermining the government's efforts to combat corruption. It also denied allegations that a $39 million contract had been signed, calling the letter circulating on the web "imaginary and fictitious".

The Minister announced that he was considering legal action for defamation and spreading false rumors.

Between CENAREF investigations, ministerial denials and contradictory documents, this affair raises serious questions about the management of public funds. At a time when the government is embarking on "anti-corruption reforms", this case could become a symbol of the abuses it claims to be combating.

To be continued ...

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma

Caption 1: Constant Mutamba, Congolese Minister of Justice visiting the prison of Kisangani

Caption 2: View of Kisangani’s prison from outside