Former justice minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Constant Mutamba, firmly rejected allegations of corruption as his high-profile trial began on Wednesday. Accused of embezzling public funds, including nearly $20 million earmarked for war victims, Mutamba maintained he was innocent and claimed he was being politically targeted.
Mutamba, known for his fiery rhetoric and staunch stance against corruption—including once advocating for the execution of those found guilty of embezzlement—resigned from his ministerial role on June 18 following the launch of the investigation. Appearing before the Court of Cassation in Kinshasa, the 37-year-old said he had been treated unjustly and voluntarily stepped down to confront the accusations head-on.
“I have suffered injustice. I accepted to face this trial to prove my innocence—that’s why I resigned,” he told the court. “They wanted the head of a man who disrupted the mafia. I am paying the price for my fight, and I will fight to the end.”
The case centres around the alleged mismanagement of a state contract to construct a prison near Kisangani in the north-west of the country. Prosecutors claim Mutamba breached public procurement regulations by awarding the contract to Zion Construction SARL—a Congolese company allegedly established only in March 2024 and lacking in administrative structure or qualified personnel.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Mutamba diverted $19.9 million from a fund paid to the DRC by Uganda as reparations for victims of conflict during the Second Congo War. The funds were meant to compensate civilians affected by clashes involving Ugandan and Rwandan forces on Congolese soil.
Mutamba, however, insisted the contract had been properly reviewed and received approval from the Prime Minister after being presented at a Council of Ministers meeting. He categorically denied bypassing any official procedures or misusing the reparation funds.
The courtroom saw several of Mutamba’s supporters in attendance, demonstrating loyalty to a figure who has built his reputation by railing against corruption and regional rival Rwanda. His outspoken nature has won him both fervent support and fierce criticism across Congolese politics.
The court is scheduled to reconvene on July 30 for the next hearing in what promises to be a closely watched case in a country long plagued by endemic corruption.
