Rédaction Africa Links 24 with CP
Published on 2024-03-03 05:06:36
In a recent twist in the Kabund-a-Kabund case against the Congolese State, the failure to notify the parties involved of the judgment raises crucial questions about the integrity and fairness of the judicial system. Some draw a parallel with the rather colorful conclusions of the recent autopsy of Chérubin Okende announced by the Attorney General near the Court of Cassation, Mvonde Mambu Firmin.
Despite the decision being made on September 13, 2023, Jean-Marc Kabund’s lawyers were met with deafening silence from the Court of Cassation, highlighting potentially political practices rather than judicial ones. This anomaly shines a stark light on a justice system with double standards, where fundamental principles of transparency and respect for procedures are violated.
The Congolese nation stands at a critical crossroads where the legitimacy of the judicial system is being questioned. It is imperative that the people demand strict adherence to the law and formal notification of the decision to Jean-Marc Kabund. Legal action for procedural error is necessary to denounce the essentially political nature of the sentence rendered.
The youth of the DRC must mobilize, as the future of the country depends on its ability to defend the principles of fairness and justice. While President Félix Tshisekedi himself has acknowledged the maladies afflicting the Congolese judicial system, it is time to act. It is precisely justice that uplifts a nation. Its instrumentalization for personal and political ends, however, lowers it.
An arbitrary arrest, a string of procedural errors, a rushed trial, and an almost Soviet-style sentence without adequate notification represent a blatant violation of justice and fundamental rights. One cannot do better in clientelism and amateurism. Certainly, the Congolese justice system may be sick as Felix Tshisekedi said, but it is not incurable.
It is imperative that the decision leading to the conviction of “Poutine,” the new nickname for Jean-Marc Kabund-a-Kabund, be annulled and the truth be brought to light. Ultimately, the release of Jean-Marc Kabund would not only be an act of justice, but also a symbol of hope for a transparent, fair, and democracy-respecting judicial system in the DRC.
TEDDY MFITU
Polymath, researcher, and writer / Senior consultant CICPAR
Read the original article(French) on Congo-Profond
