Mbuji-Mayi, 29 January 2012 – The Office of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Mbuji-Mayi inaugurated a new building for the Prosecutor's Office and the High Court of Tshilenge on Friday, 27 January 2012. The ceremony took place in the presence of Kasaï Oriental provincial authorities, who were the recipients of the new facility.

This courthouse comes as a solution to the lack of infrastructure in this province, resulting in prejudice to the administration of justice in the Prosecutor's Office. In the past, the Prosecutor's Office and the High Court of Tshilenge were working in rented facilities for a monthly cost of 500 US dollars.

The works in the amount of 24,440 US dollars were carried out within the framework of MONUSCO Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). The new facility comprises a hearing court, several offices, and two cells for female and male inmates before their transfer to the central prison of Mbuji-Mayi.

The Public Prosecutor welcomed this initiative and also called on the "Government and other partners to follow suit by initiating other projects, including providing equipment and furniture for the offices".

Alphonse Ngoyi Kasanji, the Provincial Governor, responded positively, and promised to supply the first batch of equipment to the magistrates of Tshilenge. He also requested further involvement from partners to help improve the justice system in his province.

The Prosecutor's Office of Tshilenge is one of the most important elements of the judicial sector in Kasaï Oriental because of the large number of cases processed, the majority of which are related to customary and land disputes, as well as cases of sexual violence.

Nickey Mputu/ Radio Okapi/ MONUSCO