The Democratic Republic of Congo has decided to join as a civil party in the case brought by the Auditor General of the Armed Forces (FARDC) against Army Generals John Numbi, former FARDC Inspector General, and Christian Tshiwewe, former FARDC Chief of General Staff and former military adviser to President Félix Tshisekedi, as well as seven other senior officers and Pascal Nyembo.
The announcement was made by a group of lawyers during the hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2026, before the High Military Court. The session lasted only a few minutes and was marked by the inclusion of Lieutenant General Constant Ndima, former military governor of North Kivu, among the panel of judges.
Questioned by the press after the hearing, one of the lawyers, Jean Mupira of the Kinshasa/Gombe bar, declined to go into details. However, he indicated that when the time comes, depending on the trial’s progress, the public will be informed about the reasons that led the DRC to join as a civil party in this case.
“It is rightful for the DRC to join as a civil party to demonstrate the extent of the harm suffered and to seek the conviction of the accused to pay damages proportionate to the damage caused,” the lawyer said on behalf of the group before the High Military Court.
In this trial, the defendants are required to answer to several serious charges, including conspiracy, treason, apology of terrorism, spreading false rumors, violation of orders, desertion abroad, illegal possession of weapons and war ammunition, and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline.
This second hearing also lasted only a few minutes. According to the First President of the High Military Court, Lieutenant General Joseph Mutombo Katalay Tiende, the adjournment is due to state reasons related to the unavailability of some panel members. The postponement is also intended to allow the various defense teams to file their briefs. The case has been adjourned to July 9, 2026, 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 and assisted by their lawyers. These include Army General Christian Tshiwewe Songesa; Army General John Numbi Banza Ntambo (fugitive); 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 (fugitive); and finally Pascal Nyembo Muyumba (fugitive), former Director General of the Center 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 not present at the opening of the hearing and are considered fugitives. The FARDC Auditor General requested that default judgment be entered against them. According to Lieutenant General Lucien-René Likulia Bakumi, this step is justified under articles 326 and 327 of the Congolese Military Judicial Code, as the accused are on the run.
This new trial adds to the list of legal cases involving high-ranking FARDC officers and generals, in a context marked by the war of aggression waged by Rwanda through the AFC/M23 rebellion, supported by Kigali in eastern DRC. The charges typically brought in such cases include conspiracy, treason, execution of illegal orders, and carrying out acts or instructions contrary to the law in the performance of their duties.
