On Sunday, September 14, the University of Goma (UNIGOM) in North Kivu became the epicenter of a major judicial reform effort. A total of 540 aspiring magistrates gathered to take part in a rigorous evaluation test organized by the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC-M23), marking a pivotal moment in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s push to rebuild its justice system.
These candidates emerged from a competitive selection process led by the Commission for the Revival of Justice (CRJ), which had received over 1,000 applications. Among them were seasoned magistrates, court clerks, public prosecutors’ secretaries, judicial police officers, notarial service agents, and penitentiary staff.
According to the Deputy Permanent Secretary of AFC-M23, the pool of candidates also included legal defenders, lawyers, and jurists—highlighting the diversity and depth of legal expertise being mobilized.
Training for Transformation Those who pass the evaluation won’t simply be handed a robe and gavel. They’ll undergo a rigorous technical training focused on the ethical and deontological values that underpin the legal profession. This is not just a test of knowledge—it’s a test of integrity.
Following the training, successful candidates will be deployed to Courts of Major Jurisdiction (Tribunaux de Grande Instance) and their associated prosecutor’s offices, extending all the way to the highest recognized courts in the country.
A Vision for Justice “We are determined to restore the State, rebuild the governance system, and construct a justice that is fair, clean, impartial, and truly serves the people,” declared Delion Kimbulungu, President of the CRJ.
This initiative is a direct response to the deep-rooted challenges plaguing the Congolese judicial system—constitutional violations, rampant corruption, tribalism, state crimes, massacres, and a general breakdown in governance.
What’s Next? In the coming days, AFC-M23 plans to launch procedures for military jurisdictions. For now, the focus remains on reactivating civil courts and laying the groundwork for a justice system that can stand firm against the weight of history and the hopes of a nation.
