A high-stakes corruption trial involving a former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) justice minister has reached its final stages, with prosecutors demanding a 10-year prison sentence and a ban on political rights for ex-official Constant Mutamba. The case centers on allegations that Mutamba embezzled nearly $20 million in state funds earmarked for constructing a prison in Kisangani, a city in the country’s northeast.
During Wednesday’s closing arguments, the prosecution argued Mutamba had abused his authority as justice minister to divert resources from the public infrastructure project, calling for a decade of hard labor and a concurrent prohibition on voting or holding elected office. The trial, marked by political tensions, has drawn attention to Congo’s struggles with graft, particularly within its judicial and administrative systems.
Mutamba’s legal team vigorously disputed the charges, contending that no evidence proves financial misconduct occurred. Defense lawyers emphasized that the former minister had proactively involved oversight bodies, including the General Inspectorate of Finance, to monitor transactions tied to the prison contract. They framed this as a demonstration of transparency, asserting the arrangement allowed auditors to track payments to the construction firm.
The case has sparked debate due to Mutamba’s prominent anti-corruption advocacy. As a 2023 presidential candidate, he campaigned on judicial reforms and accountability, positioning himself as a critic of systemic graft—a stance his supporters argue has made him a target of political retaliation. His outspoken critiques of the legal establishment, including clashes with magistrates, further complicate the trial’s backdrop.
Observers note the proceedings underscore broader challenges in a nation ranked among the world’s most corruption-prone by Transparency International. The Kisangani prison project, initially pitched as part of efforts to improve Congo’s overcrowded detention facilities, now symbolizes allegations of high-level malfeasance.
With the verdict set for August 27, the outcome could reshape Mutamba’s political future and influence public trust in Congo’s judiciary. While prosecutors frame the case as a test of the government’s commitment to tackling elite corruption, supporters of the ex-minister view it as a politically motivated attempt to silence a reformist voice.
The trial’s conclusion arrives amid heightened scrutiny of governance in the DRC, where President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration faces pressure to address allegations of embezzlement and mismanagement. For now, all eyes remain on the court as it weighs claims of financial impropriety against a man who once vowed to root out the very practices he now stands accused of enabling.
