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| Newly appointed Congolese magistrates taking their oath, photo by Joel Kalumba |
The diplomatic missions of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have weighed in on the controversy surrounding the move by some Congolese lawmakers to introduce judicial reforms.
In a joint statement, the ambassadors of the 3 countries warned that the proposed bill on the amendment of the judicial law, could weaken the independence of the judiciary, which is an important element for democracy and good governance.
They further argued that if such change occured, it could undermine the protection of civil and political rights in the country.
Earlier in the week, the National Assembly approved a submission by parliamentarians Aubin Minaku and Garry Sakata, to debate the notion aimed at introducing judicial reforms. The members want to see changes in the law that determines the functioning, organisation and competency of the courts; they also want amendment to the law of the statute of the magistrates, and changes to the law determining the functioning of the Superior Council of the Magistrates.
The proposals have been greeted with violent protests in the capital Kinshasa, with opposition members accusing the lawmakers of trying to capture the Congolese judicial system and escape accountability.
Minaku and Sakata are members of the Common Front for Congo, a coalition movement that controls majority seats in the National Assembly. Many members of this coalition have been accused of corruption while serving under the previous regime; and now with the sentencing of Vital Kamerhe, Chief of Staff of President Felix Tshisekedi, on charges of corruption, pressure is mounting on the justice system to pursue others.
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