Guillaume Ngefa orders investigation into magistrate assault in Kisangani

Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko Andali, the Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals, has ordered an immediate judicial investigation following the physical assault of magistrate Ikobia Bahati in Kisangani. The incident occurred during a police operation intended to demolish a fence believed to be encroaching on public land. The altercation resulted in the magistrate being struck, an event captured in viral videos that prompted a condemnation from the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM).

In a separate development, Minister Ngefa concluded an evaluation mission in Kongo Central. Following visits to Matadi, Boma, and Muanda, the Minister announced the creation of a monitoring committee involving the Ministry of Justice and provincial authorities. The mission aimed to assess judicial infrastructure, detention conditions, and administrative efficiency. During a visit to the Matadi prison, the Minister observed severe overcrowding, described by inmates as the ‘casier phenomenon,’ where prisoners are forced to sleep stacked on top of one another.