Christian Tshiwewe and Félix Tshisekedi
  • Justice

The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially joined a civil lawsuit against former high-ranking military officers including General John Numbi, former Inspector General of the Armed Forces, and General Christian Tshiwewe, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and former military advisor to President Félix Tshisekedi. The case also includes seven other senior officers and Pascal Nyembo.

A collective of lawyers announced this decision during yesterday’s brief hearing before the DR Congo’s High Military Court. The session lasted only a few minutes and saw the addition of Lieutenant General Constant Ndima, former military governor of North Kivu, to the bench as an assessor judge.

Speaking to the press after the hearing, lawyer Jean Mupira, representing the collective, declined to elaborate further but stated that the public will be informed in due course about the reasons behind the state’s decision to join the civil suit.

“It is only right that the Democratic Republic of Congo joins as a civil party to demonstrate the full extent of the damages suffered and to seek proportional compensation from the accused,” Mupira explained on behalf of the legal team.

The accused face multiple serious charges, including conspiracy, treason, terrorism apologia, spreading false rumors, violation of orders, desertion abroad, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline.

This second hearing was unusually brief. According to the First President of the High Military Court, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, the adjournment was necessary due to state considerations related to the unavailability of certain members of the bench. The delay will also allow defense teams to file their clients’ legal briefs. The next hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026.

The first hearing, also presided over by Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, focused on the identification of the various accused. Several were present with their legal representatives, including:

  • General Christian Tshiwewe Songesa;
  • General John Numbi Banza Ntambo (currently a fugitive);
  • Major General Maurice Nyembo Kufi;
  • Brigadier Generals Chinyabuuma Kamukinde, Ngoy wa Kabila John, and Sangwa Muhemedi John;
  • Colonels Mukombozi Zahinda Guy, Sangwa Lumbu Pathy, and Tshinabo Kenge Christophe (also a fugitive);
  • Pascal Nyembo Muyumba (also a fugitive), former Director General of the Centre for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Minerals (CEEC).

General John Numbi, Pascal Nyembo Muyumba, and Colonel Tshinabo Kenge Christophe were notably absent and are considered fugitives. The Auditor General of the Armed Forces had requested that default judgments be entered against them in accordance with Articles 326 and 327 of the Congolese Military Code.

This case adds to a growing list of judicial proceedings involving senior officers of the Armed Forces of the DR Congo, amid the ongoing war of aggression led by Rwanda through the M23 rebellion, which is supported by Kigali in the eastern regions of the country. Common charges in such cases include conspiracy, treason, execution of illegal orders, and acts or instructions contrary to the law in the performance of official duties.