Bertrand Bisimwa, President of the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23), has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo’s judiciary to take a stronger, more active role in addressing rampant crime and impunity, saying the country is collapsing under the absence of justice.
Speaking during a visit by candidate magistrates in Goma on Sunday, Bisimwa denounced the widespread sexual violence and lawlessness plaguing communities, stressing that only a fearless judiciary could restore order.
“We want to see the Magistrates punish all these thugs who rape our mothers. We want an active judiciary that will go in search of offenses. Our country is dying from the absence of justice,” he said.
Bisimwa rejected the notion that justice in the DRC is merely “sick,” insisting instead that it is “nonexistent” and in dire need of revival. “Now, we want to resurrect it. We want the Magistrate to constitute a force and make everyone in this country afraid. That when we see a Magistrate, everyone gets in line,” he added.
His comments came during the Evaluation Test for Candidate Magistrates held in Goma the same day, where more than 500 jurists, lawyers, and judicial defenders sat for exams aimed at integrating them into the magistrature.
The test marked the formal launch of a new justice system created by the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) in territories under its control, part of broader efforts to fill the vacuum left by state institutions.
The evaluation was organized by the Justice Relaunch Commission, established by AFC/M23 to oversee the recruitment, training, and deployment of magistrates in captured areas.
Movement officials say the initiative is designed to restore law and order, end impunity, and protect civilians, especially victims of sexual violence, in regions where Kinshasa’s justice system has long been absent or dysfunctional.
Observers note that the establishment of this parallel judiciary underscores both the deep frustration with Congo’s national courts and the AFC/M23’s ambition under President Bisimwa to consolidate governance structures in its territories.
The initiative also highlights growing demands for accountability and justice in eastern DRC, where communities have endured decades of violence and neglect.