PRESIDENT FELIX TSHISEKEDI PROMISE TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY

President Felix Tshisekedi swearing in Attorney General for the Consititutional Court Jean Paul Mukolo, photo by Presidency RDC

Speaking to union representatives of the country's magistrates, President Felix Tshisekedi promised to maintain the independent of the judicial system and promote fair justice; according to him this was very important and in accordance with establishing the rule of law.

Magistrates representatives speaking to the press, after meeting with President Felix Tshisekedi, audio visual in French

The meeting between the President and the magistrates, which took place on Saturday 27 June 2020 , comes at a time when some lawmakers are calling for the amendment of certain sections of the judicial law, to give power to the Justice Minister.

Earlier on, magistrates across the Democratic Republic of Congo held peaceful march to denounce the propose amendment to the judicial law, fearing that it could affect their ability to exercise their duty independently.

The law was also  at the centre of the arrest of Justice Minister Tunda Ya Kasenda. The minister was interogated by the Attorney General after he submitted a letter to the National Assembly claiming that government had approved the debate on the proposed judicial reforms to go ahead , when infact cabinet had never discussed the matter in the first place. The minister was later released

Apart from supporting their view, President Tshisekedi also promised to improve the living and social conditions of the country's magistrates.

KINSHASA: DONALD TRUMP MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT FELIX TSHISEKEDI

United States President Donald Trump has sent a well wish letter to President Felix Tshisekedi, as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) approaches 60th anniversary of independence; to be celebrated on 30 June 2020.

In the letter, Trump commended the Congolese leader's effort to fight corruption and establish good governance. He also acknowledged the commitment made by the authorities to develop the health and education system, and imporove security; even amidst the global pandemic and the emergence of the Ebola disease.

According to Trump, the DRC is an important country in Central Africa , and the region will gain immensely from Congo's drive to bring peace and economic opportunities.

Relations between the USA and DRC seems to be on the mend ever since the election of President Felix Tshisekedi in 2018. Previously both countries had found themselves in very tense diplomatic exchange, as the US administration had expressed its discontent with the brutal regime of Joseph Kabila and its delay tactics in advancing democratic reforms.
But with Tshisekedi in power, the Trump government, through its Ambassador Mike Hammer, has chosen to take a supportive approach and  has become increasingly optimistic on the current leadership to bring about positive change.

The  United States remains one of the leading financial donor for the DRC, contributing funds towards humanitarian work and the promotion of peace and security.

BREAKING: CONGOLESE JUSTICE MINISTER ARRESTED

Police in Kinshasa pounce on the residence of Justice Minister Tunda Ya Kasenda, on Saturday afternoon, and had him arrested.

A warrant of arrest had been issued by the Office of the Attorney General in Matete, against the minister, over the submission of false claims.

The minister had submitted a letter to the National Assembly indicating that the Council of Ministers had approved the proposed amendment to the judicial law be debated in Parliament. However this was later found to be false since the Council had not even addressed the matter yet.

Some cabinet ministers had been angered by the Justice Minister's action, which they felt undermined the leadership of President Felix Tshisekedi.

ASSAILANTS FROM BURUNDI ATTACK RWANDAN SOLDIERS

According to a statement from the Rwandan Defense Force, the gunmen attacked a military based in the locality of Ruheru on Friday 26 June 2020, before retreating back to Burundi, which was about a km away.

The incident left three Rwandan soldiers with minor injuries and four assailant dead, said the spokesperson for the Rwandan army Lt Innocent Munyengango.

This was not the first attack in the region, coming from Burundi, three years ago a similar occurrence took place, leaving two people death.

There have not been any official response from the Burundian government, however the Rwandan authorities have promised to pursue the attackers.

Relations between both Rwanda and Burundi have been extremely tense for more than a decade, with each party accusing the other of supporting rebel movements wishing to destabilise their country


. Four Rwandan soldiers were injured in the process

KINSHASA: PRESIDENCY DENIES FELIX ABANDONED CABINET MEETING DUE TO TENSION BETWEEN HIM AND JUSTICE MINISTER

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, photo by Presidency

A letter from the office of the Chief of Staff, has denied allegations that President Felix Tshisekedi had cut short the 37th session of the Council of Ministers meeting, after being undermined by the Minister of Justice.

The President instead had to rush to attend another video conference with Head of States from the Continent.

 Sources attending the ministerial meeting alleged that President Tshisekedi dropped the video chat after being informed about the Minister of Justice, Tunda Ya Kasenda,  already submitting a letter to the National Assembly, indicating that cabinet has approved the proposed amendment to the judicial law be debated in Parliament. But the matter was yet to be discussed by the Council of Ministers.

According to the sources, the Minister of Justice raised the subject for discussion, but was quickly interrupted by one of the cabinet members, who informed the President that he was being made a fool since the Minister already took the decision on behalf of government. The President then turned to the Minister to find out whether there was any truth to this, a question the Minister could not deny.

Later, a civil society movement called on the Attorney General to open a criminal investigation against the Justice Minister, for approving a government letter without the consent and knowledge of the cabinet.
However the Minister defended himself by arguing that, a copy of the letter was handed over to the office of the Prime Minister.

The proposed amendment to the judicial law, which was brought forward by members of Parliament Aubin Minaku and Garry Sakata, caused tension across the country with the fear that if passed it could interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

KINSHASA: MEMBERS OF CACH WITHDRAW FROM COMMITTEE REVIEWING JUDICIAL LAWS

Some parliamentarians from the CACH coalition, which is made up of members from the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), have withdrawn their participation from the Administrative and Legal Policy Committee of the National Assembly. The Committee had been assigned with reviewing certain sections of the judicial legislation.

According to the members, such review cannot be continued since it violate several Articles of the Constitution.
They were also hoping that the Committee will take into account the violent protest that erupted in Kinshasa, over the proposed amendment to the judicial law, and stop the review. The protest was a clear message from ordinary Congolese citizens that they are against the amendment, said one of the Parliamentarians.

But on Friday 26 June 2020, despite the objection, the Committee decided to go ahead with reviewing the proposed judicial amendment anyway.

A reminder that members of the Common  Front for Congo (FCC), Aubin Minaku and Garry Sakata, had submitted a motion to the National Assembly, to debate on the revision of certain judicial laws. They want to see among other things, changes in the functioning and competency of the Court, with the aim that the role of the Justice Minister will have some kind of impact.

But many view the idea as an attempt by the lawmakers to interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

KINSHASA: USA, UK AND CANADA WARN AGAINST AMENDING JUDICIAL LAWS

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.