Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo Sylvestre Ilunga expressed his “indignation” to President Félix Tshisekedi (in illustration), after the brief “arbitrary” arrest on Saturday evening of the Minister of Justice, new crisis within the coalition in power.
Usually very discreet, the Prime Minister comes from the same camp as ex-President Joseph Kabila, who governs in coalition with his successor Félix Tshisekedi.
The majority of the 66 ministers come from the Common Front for Congo (FCC), the party of Mr. Kabila, majority in the Parliament. This is the case of the Minister of Justice Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende, released after several hours of hearing at the prosecution.
“Members of the government have expressed their indignation for the humiliation suffered by their colleague”, and “condemn this arbitrary arrest”, “in violation of the basic rules of the rule of law”, according to the Prime Minister’s services statement dated from Saturday and received Sunday by AFP.
The Prime Minister asks the Head of State “to seize the Superior Council of the magistrature for the opening of a disciplinary action” towards the magistrates who took part in this arrest.
He also asked him “to guarantee the secrecy of the deliberations of the Council of Ministers”.
The arrest took place the day after an incident in the Council of Ministers.
President Tshisekedi was furious to learn that his Keeper of the Seals had passed on government observations on three highly controversial bills to parliament without consulting either the president or the executive, a ministerial source said.
A “personal initiative”, can be read in the minutes of the meeting.
The minister was released without charge according to his entourage. The reasons for his arrest have not been formally communicated.
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