Construction work on the expansion of the Beni Courthouse, in North Kivu province, began on Thursday, May 21, 2016. The project is financed by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as part of a Quick Impact Project (QIP) worth 60,000 US dollars.
The project aims to improve working conditions for magistrates and strengthen the functioning of the judicial system in a province still affected by persistent security and institutional challenges.
For a More effective Justice system
The work, scheduled to last three months, includes the construction and furnishing of six additional offices, two reception rooms, and sanitary facilities.
This extension will notably provide temporary accommodation for the North Kivu Court of Appeal and the Office of the Prosecutor General, currently relocated to Beni following Goma takeover by AFC/M23 armed group in January 2025.
By providing a more suitable working environment, the project seeks to improve the quality of judicial services and facilitate citizens’ access to justice institutions.
According to local judicial authorities, this initiative addresses an urgent need for infrastructure better adapted to current demands.
More suitable infrastructure
Billy Bulayi Kitenge, Acting President of the North Kivu Court of Appeal, emphasized the importance of this project for the proper functioning of justice in the province.
“This project is part of the response to persistent infrastructure needs. To work effectively, we need an environment where quality justice can be delivered. When we arrived from Goma, we found ourselves wandering. We did not know where to settle or work. Today, judges and clerks are crowded into unsuitable spaces, and even the preservation of case files has become a problem,” he explained.
According to him, these works will “considerably improve the quality of the work expected from the Court of Appeal.”
“It will provide us with a secure environment, allow better preservation of files, and facilitate litigants’ access to the high court. Previously, we simply did not have an identifiable workplace,” Billy Bulayi Kitenge pointed out.
Through this project, MONUSCO reaffirms its commitment to supporting the strengthening of the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in areas affected by insecurity.
Improving judicial infrastructure is an essential lever for ensuring a justice system that is more accessible, more effective, and more credible in the eyes of the population.
This initiative is part of a series of actions undertaken by the Mission to support local institutions and contribute to the sustainable stabilization of the region.
Jean-Tobie Okala
