Faith Nyasuguta
In a striking move in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s battle against corruption, former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba has been sentenced by the Court of Cassation to three years of forced labor for embezzling $19 million in public funds intended for a prison construction in Kisangani. The ruling also bars him from holding public office for the next five years.
Mutamba, who resigned in June amid the unfolding scandal, denied the allegations. His lawyer, Joel Kitenge, described the verdict as unfair, insisting his client did not personally benefit from the missing funds.
On Tuesday, heavy security was deployed and roads around Kinshasa’s Court of Cassation were barricaded ahead of the verdict, highlighting the case’s political sensitivity.
The conviction has been widely seen as a symbolic test of Congo’s commitment to tackling corruption, a problem that has long plagued the country’s institutions. Mutamba’s fall from grace is particularly striking because he once campaigned as an anti-corruption advocate during his 2023 presidential bid.
His tenure as justice minister was marked by controversy, including a proposal to reintroduce the death penalty for journalists reporting on Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, a move that drew sharp criticism from press freedom advocates.
The court ruled that Mutamba acted with the intent of illegal enrichment and bypassed proper legal procedures during the contract process for the prison project. Officials stressed that the embezzled funds were critical to addressing overcrowding and dire conditions in Congo’s prison system, making the scandal even more damaging.
Earlier this year, the case fueled political tensions, with protests breaking out in Kinshasa as Mutamba’s supporters clashed with police, delaying parts of the trial.
While forced labor sentences in Congo are typically served in prison, it remains unclear whether Mutamba will face the same conditions. What is clear is that the conviction strips him of political credibility and significantly diminishes his chances of staging a political comeback.
Beyond the personal consequences for Mutamba, the ruling is being framed as a message to officials who misuse public funds. Corruption has drained billions from Congo’s coffers, undermining public trust and weakening development in a country rich in natural resources yet struggling with poverty and instability.
For many Congolese, this conviction is a rare example of accountability in a system where corruption often goes unpunished. Whether it sparks broader reform, however, remains uncertain. For now, Mutamba’s sentence stands as one of the most high-profile corruption convictions in recent years, symbolizing both progress and the steep challenges that remain in Congo’s fight against graft.
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