The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially registered as a civil party in the case brought by the Auditor General of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) against Army Generals John Numbi, former FARDC Inspector General, and Christian Tshiwewe, former FARDC Chief of General Staff and former military advisor to President Félix Tshisekedi, along with seven other senior officers and Pascal Nyembo.
The announcement was made by a collective of lawyers during the hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2026, before the High Military Court of the DRC. The session lasted only a few minutes and was notable for the inclusion of Lieutenant General Constant Ndima, former military governor of North Kivu, as a judge assessor in the panel.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, one of the lawyers, Maître Jean Mupira of the Kinshasa/Gombe bar, declined to provide specifics. However, he stated that when the time is right and depending on the trial’s progress, the public will be informed about the reasons that prompted the DRC to join as a civil party in this case.
“It is entirely proper for the Democratic Republic of Congo to join as a civil party to demonstrate the extent of the damages suffered and to seek the conviction of the accused with proportionate compensation,” the lawyer said on behalf of the collective before the High Military Court.
In this trial, the defendants face multiple serious charges, including conspiracy, treason, apology for terrorism, spreading false rumors, violating orders, desertion abroad, illegal possession of weapons and war munitions, and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline.
This second hearing ultimately lasted only minutes. According to the First President of the High Military Court, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, the postponement was due to state reasons related to the unavailability of certain panel members. The adjournment also allows defense teams to submit memoranda for their clients. The case was therefore adjourned to July 9, 2026, the date set for the next hearing.
The first hearing, also presided over by Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, allowed the military court to identify the various defendants. Several were present with their legal counsel, including: Army General Christian Tshiwewe Songesa; Army General John Numbi Banza Ntambo (at large); 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 (at large); and Pascal Nyembo Muyumba (at large), former Director General of the Centre for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Mineral Substances (CEEC).
In contrast, Army General John Numbi, former FARDC Inspector General; Pascal Nyembo Muyumba, former CEEC Director General; and Colonel Tshinabo Kenge Christophe were absent at the opening of the hearing and are considered fugitives. The FARDC Auditor General therefore requested that default judgment be entered against them. According to Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, FARDC Auditor General, this step is justified under Articles 326 and 327 of the Congolese Military Judicial Code, as the accused are at large.
This new trial adds to the growing list of judicial proceedings involving high-ranking FARDC officers, amid a context of aggression by Rwanda through the AFC/M23 rebellion supported by Kigali in eastern DRC. Charges commonly seen in such cases include conspiracy, treason, execution of illegal orders, and performing acts or following instructions contrary to the law in the exercise of official duties.
