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

The announcement was made by a collective of lawyers during an audience held on Thursday, June 25, 2024, before the Military High Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The session lasted only a few minutes and was notable for the addition of Lieutenant General Constant Ndima, former military governor of North Kivu, to the panel of judges.

Speaking to the press after the hearing, one of the lawyers involved, Maître Jean Mupira of the Kinshasa/Gombe Bar Association, declined to elaborate on the specifics. He did, however, indicate that the public would be informed in due course about the reasons behind the DRC’s decision to join the civil suit as a plaintiff.

“It is only right that the Democratic Republic of the Congo joins this case as a civil plaintiff to demonstrate the extent of the harm suffered and to seek damages from the defendants proportionate to the losses incurred,” the lawyer stated on behalf of the collective before the Military High Court.

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

The second hearing concluded within minutes. According to the First President of the Military High Court, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, the postponement of the case was necessary due to state-related reasons tied to the unavailability of certain members of the panel. The delay will also allow the defense teams to submit their clients’ legal memoranda. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 9, 2026.

At the first hearing, presided over by Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, the court proceeded with the identification of the defendants. Several of them were present, accompanied by their legal representatives. These included General Christian Tshiwewe Songesa; General John Numbi Banza Ntambo (currently a fugitive); Major General Maurice Nyembo Kufi; Brigadier General Chinyabuuma Kamukinde; Brigadier General Ngoy wa Kabila John; Brigadier General Sangwa Muhemedi John; Colonel Mukombozi Zahinda Guy; Colonel Sangwa Lumbu Pathy; Colonel Tshinabo Kenge Christophe (also a fugitive); and Pascal Nyembo Muyumba (a fugitive), former Director General of the Centre for Expertise, Evaluation, and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Minerals (CEEC).

General John Numbi, former Inspector General of the FARDC, Pascal Nyembo Muyumba, former Director General of the CEEC, and Colonel Tshinabo Kenge Christophe were notably absent during the opening of the hearing before the Military High Court. They are considered fugitives, and the Military Prosecutor General has requested that their cases proceed in absentia. According to Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, Military Prosecutor General, this action is justified under Articles 326 and 327 of the Congolese Military Judicial Code, given their fugitive status.

This new trial adds to the growing number of high-profile cases involving senior officers of the FARDC, set against a backdrop of Rwanda’s ongoing aggression through the M23 rebellion, which Kigali is accused of supporting in eastern DRC. Common charges in such cases include conspiracy, treason, execution of illegal orders, and performing acts or issuing instructions contrary to the law in the course of their duties.