A Congolese court has convicted former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba of embezzling $19 million earmarked for a prison construction project in Kisangani, sentencing him to three years of forced labor and banning him from electoral participation for five years after serving his time.
The Court of Cassation found Mutamba guilty, who had served under President Felix Tshisekedi in 2024 and 2025 before resigning amidst the allegations, which he denies.
Supporters of Mutamba had protested his arrest, leading to clashes in Kinshasa that forced the court to postpone the verdict’s announcement.
As a prominent figure in Congolese politics, Mutamba had campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and advocated for judicial reforms, which has sparked debate about the motivations behind his prosecution.
The case highlights the challenges in tackling corruption in the DRC, where the government faces pressure to address allegations of embezzlement and mismanagement.
