Since Monday, 16 February 2025, MONUSCO, through its Justice Support Section (JSS), has been supporting the Military Garrison Court of Bunia in holding mobile court hearings in Aru‑centre, a locality more than 300 km from Bunia in Ituri Province.
A total of 104 pre‑trial detainees will finally learn their fate after three years in detention without trial. The hearings, scheduled until 25 February, aim to address irregular and prolonged detentions and reduce overcrowding in Aru prison, which currently hosts 158 detainees including 8 women, despite a capacity of only 75.
On Monday, 16 February, during the opening of the hearings and in front of the local population, Colonel Magistrate José Ndamba, President of the Bunia Military Garrison Court, highlighted the impact of MONUSCO’s support:
“Since the establishment of the state of siege, Aru has been waiting for the Military Garrison Court to come and hear the cases for which people have been detained from 2022 until today. And it is thanks to MONUSCO that these hearings are finally being held here in Aru.”
Concrete support from MONUSCO
To bring justice closer to the citizens, MONUSCO has mobilized its resources to enable the Bunia Military Tribunal to hold sessions directly in Aru, at the very location where the crimes were committed.
By managing the entire logistical chain—from the delegation's transport and accommodation to the daily mobility of the magistrates—the Mission has removed the material obstacles to holding these hearings.
This support goes beyond logistics: through the technical expertise of its staff and the financial aid provided to lawyers for legal assistance, MONUSCO ensures that both victims and defendants can exercise their rights under fair and secure conditions.
A crucial contribution to a fragile security environment
This support comes at a time when Ituri is experiencing persistent instability, marked by armed conflicts and serious human rights violations. In response, the Government imposed the state of siege, also in force in North Kivu.
In this context, strengthening the justice system and enhancing judicial capacity are essential tools in the fight against impunity and in restoring State authority.
Recently, the military justice system in Ituri also benefited from: support to digitize military judicial data, and the construction, in June 2023, of an administrative building for the Military Court and the Military High Prosecutor’s Office, funded by MONUSCO.
These initiatives improve transparency, efficiency and timely handling of cases.
Jean-Tobie Okala
