IN a stunning reversal of fortune that reads like bitter irony, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s former justice minister has been sentenced to three years of forced labour for stealing $19 million designated to construct a prison in the northern city of Kisangani.
Constant Mutamba, 37, once sat at the apex of Congo’s judicial system. This week, he found himself on the receiving end of its hammer as the Court of Cassation delivered a verdict that transforms the former cabinet heavyweight from power broker to convicted felon.
The courthouse drama that preceded the ruling resembled a political thriller more than routine legal proceedings. Just last week, violent clashes erupted between Mutamba’s fervent supporters and riot police in the streets of Kinshasa, forcing judges to postpone their decision as tear gas drifted through the capital’s corridors of power.
But neither street protests nor political connections could save Mutamba from the grinding wheels of justice. Presiding Judge Jacques Kabasele delivered the sentence with clinical precision: three years of forced labour, plus a five-year ban from seeking elected office once his sentence expires.
The fall from grace has been swift and merciless. Mutamba served under President Felix Tshisekedi through 2024 and into 2025, wielding considerable influence over the country’s legal apparatus. Yet by May, Congo’s attorney general had been authorised to prosecute the very man who had overseen the ministry of justice.
Sensing the walls closing in, Mutamba tendered his resignation in June, steadfastly denying the charges even as evidence mounted against him. The $19 million he allegedly pocketed was earmarked for critical infrastructure in Kisangani, a city desperately in need of proper detention facilities.
The conviction carries particular sting given Mutamba’s recent political posturing. Earlier this year, he championed legal proceedings against former President Joseph Kabila over alleged connections to the M23 rebel group — a crusade for accountability that now appears tragically ironic given his own criminal conduct.
As Mutamba’s supporters continue their protests in the capital’s restive neighbourhoods, the former minister’s fate serves as a stark reminder that in Congo’s evolving political landscape, not even those who once wielded the sword of justice are immune from its blade.
The case marks a significant moment for President Tshisekedi’s administration, demonstrating a willingness to pursue high-ranking officials suspected of corruption — even those from within his own government’s ranks.
