The Minister of Justice was briefly arrested on Saturday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the middle of a political crisis which is tearing apart the ruling coalition and causing violent street demonstrations.
The Keeper of the Seals, Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende, was released after being heard for a few hours at the General Prosecutor’s Office, according to an AFP journalist on the spot. “No charges were made. The prosecutor himself noted that the file was empty. It was an unnecessary hassle, “said political support from the minister, François Nzekuye. Judicial sources have confirmed.
His arrest came after an incident in the Council of Ministers, a new hitch in the ruling coalition in the DRC. This coalition brings together the political forces of President Félix Tshisekedi, winner of the presidential election of December 30, 2018, and those of his predecessor Joseph Kabila, still in the majority in Parliament.
Anger of President Tshisekedi
The arrested Minister of Justice is a member of the Common Front for the Congo (FCC, pro-Kabila), like the Prime Minister and the majority of the 66 ministers. Friday in the Council of Ministers, he angered President Tshisekedi over three bills concerning the status of magistrates, according to ministerial sources.
Carried by two FCC deputies, these texts are targeting the UDPS, the party of Félix Tshisekedi. President Tshisekedi was furious to learn that his Minister of Justice had forwarded government observations on these three bills to Parliament without consulting either the president or the executive.
The Council of Ministers learned that “the National Assembly was already in possession of the government’s observations […] on the personal initiative “of the Minister of Justice, according to the report of the council.
The President of the Republic has even slammed the door of the council, indicates a ministerial source. The presidency denies this version of the facts, indicating that Félix Tshisekedi was to participate in a videoconference with other African heads of state.
«Viva Joseph Kabila»
The arrest of the Minister of Justice galvanized supporters of Joseph Kabila on Saturday, who came before the prosecution in sign of support for their colleague. Joseph Kabila’s twin sister, Jaynet, was seen among supporters and executives of the FCC.
