From 22 June to 14 July 2026, the Bunia Garrison Military Court held mobile court hearings to review the cases of 115 individuals who had remained in pretrial detention at Bunia Central Prison. At the conclusion of the hearings, 105 decisions were issued.
This initiative, carried out with the technical, logistical, and financial support of MONUSCO's Justice Support Section (JSS), aimed to address two major challenges: reducing the prolonged pretrial detention of many detainees and easing overcrowding at the detention facility, which is facing severe congestion in the context of the ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak.
Alarming overcrowding
Built to accommodate 520 inmates, Bunia Central Prison housed 2,231 detainees when the initiative began. Fewer than 700 of them had been convicted. The remaining inmates were being held in pretrial detention, in some cases for several years, without having been tried.
This extreme overcrowding significantly hampers the implementation of infection prevention and control measures, particularly in light of the risk of Ebola transmission in Ituri. By expediting the review of cases involving long-term detainees, these hearings not only help uphold the right to a trial within a reasonable time but also contribute to improving health conditions within the prison.
Speeding up case processing
To handle a large number of cases within a limited period, three panels of the Military Court sat daily for 16 consecutive days.
MONUSCO provided logistical and financial support covering, among other things, the participation of judges, military assessors from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Congolese National Police (PNC), lawyers, legal aid defenders, and prison staff mobilized throughout the hearings.
Because of Ebola prevention measures, the hearings, initially scheduled to take place at Bunia Central Prison, were ultimately held at the premises of the Bunia Garrison Military Court.
Prior to the hearings, MONUSCO's Justice Support Section assisted the judicial authorities in selecting eligible cases and verifying that the defendants were still being held at the prison. Of the 240 cases initially identified, only 115 involved individuals who remained detained at Bunia Central Prison. The remaining cases concerned defendants who had been granted provisional release or individuals incarcerated in the prisons of Aru, Mahagi, and Mambasa, who could not be transferred to Bunia.
Very long waiting times before trials
The cases reviewed involved a range of offences, including theft, sexual violence, homicide, and alleged participation in insurgent movements. Some defendants had been awaiting trial since 2018.
According to Lieutenant Colonel and Military Judge José Ndemba, President of the Bunia Garrison Military Court, the hearings responded to an urgent need for justice.
"The objective is to reduce overcrowding in detention facilities and enable those being held to finally know the outcome of their cases. It also helps reduce prolonged pretrial detention."
Behind the statistics are individual lives. The hearings enabled several people who had been awaiting trial for many years to finally have their cases heard. Among them was a man who had spent three and a half years in pretrial detention before appearing before the court. At the end of his trial, he was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. His case illustrates the human consequences of delays in the judicial process and highlights the importance of delivering justice within a reasonable timeframe.
This initiative forms part of MONUSCO's broader efforts to strengthen access to justice in Ituri. In recent months, the Mission has also supported the organization of mobile court hearings in Aru to combat prolonged pretrial detention, bring justice closer to local communities, and reinforce the fight against impunity.
MONUSCO therefore continues to support the Congolese authorities in their efforts to build a justice system that is more effective, more accessible, and more respectful of fundamental rights. By helping reduce judicial delays and combat impunity, the Mission also contributes to strengthening the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Didier Vignon DOSSOU-GBAKON
