DR Congo justice minister poisoned amid corruption crackdown

Constant Mutamba, the Minister of Justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has tested positive for poisoning, sparking concerns over his safety amid a fierce anti-corruption campaign within the country’s judicial system.

The alarming news follows similar test results among members of his staff.

“Constant Mutamba has tested positive for poison and is now taking serious steps to secure medical treatment,” said close associates of the minister.

The confirmation came on Saturday, raising fears that the Justice Minister may have been targeted due to his high-profile efforts to reform the judiciary.

Suspicious Substances Found in Minister’s Office

The revelations come just days after an attempted break-in at Mutamba’s office was reported.

On Monday, the Justice Ministry announced a breach of the Minister’s office through the antechamber.

Intruders had reset the electronic surveillance system, and data from security cameras had been erased.

The ministry’s statement also highlighted the presence of suspicious powders scattered across the office.

Two days later, a subsequent statement from the ministry revealed that forensic police had discovered traces of poison in both the minister’s office and the adjoining antechamber.

Investigators found a white powder spread in various locations, alongside a suspicious liquid in the office refrigerator.

Additionally, the toilets had been contaminated with a substance emitting a pungent gas.

These toxic elements caused multiple cases of poisoning among the minister’s staff, who are currently receiving medical care.

Constant Mutamba, now added to the list of those poisoned, is expected to receive appropriate treatment.

Targeted for Taking on Corruption?

The poisoning incident comes as Mutamba intensifies his campaign to reform Congo’s troubled judicial system.

In recent weeks, the young minister has captured attention for his relentless efforts to address corruption and inefficiency within the judiciary.

Mutamba has made it his mission to reduce overcrowding in prisons and purge the judiciary of systemic flaws. His initial targets have been corrupt magistrates, who have fiercely resisted his authority.

Undeterred by threats, Mutamba has pressed forward. In late August, he directed the Attorney General of the Kinshasa/Gombe Court of Appeal to initiate proceedings against clerks and secretaries implicated in embezzlement.

An audit by the Court of Auditors revealed that nearly $9 million was misappropriated in 2023 alone across 43 judicial entities in Kinshasa.

Taking on such powerful interests has clearly placed Mutamba in a precarious position, as the poisoning incident starkly demonstrates.

While the Justice Minister’s actions have drawn significant support from those frustrated by judicial corruption, they have also provoked a dangerous backlash from those with vested interests in maintaining the status quo.

For Mutamba, the path forward appears fraught with risks, but his resolve to clean up Congo’s judiciary remains unshaken.