DRC: Justice Minister Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende arrested in the middle of a political crisis

The political crisis continues within the ruling coalition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Justice Minister Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende was arrested on June 27 in Kinshasa, a member of his political family told AFP.

>> Read: DRC: Vital Kamerhe, chief of staff at Tshisekedi, sentenced to "20 years of forced labor"

Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende was taken to the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Cassation, said the deputy and ex-minister Felix Kabange Numbi, present before this court. "The police are around my residence," the justice minister himself told AFP 10 minutes before his arrest.

He is prosecuted for "forgery and use of forgery", continued the deputy.

URGENT - # RDC🇨🇩: the VPM, Célestin Tunda Y'a KASENDE, was arrested and brought to the public prosecutor's office near the Court of Cassation. pic.twitter.com/Xn68zSBaYY

His arrest comes against the backdrop of serious tensions within the ruling coalition, formed by President Félix Tshisekedi and his predecessor Joseph Kabila, of which Mr. Tunda Ya Kasende is a close friend.

"The police are around my residence," the justice minister himself told AFP 10 minutes before his arrest.

Asked about a "warrant to bring" issued against him, which judicial sources had mentioned, the minister replied: "I am told that. I have not yet seen the document".

"I have immunity as a member of the government," he added.

Controversial bills

A lawyer, Célestin Tunda Ya Kasende is a member of the political family of Joseph Kabila, a majority in Parliament and who forms a government coalition with the party of President Tschisekedi.

Friday, during the Council of Ministers, the Head of State severely criticized his Minister of Justice for having transmitted to the National Assembly the opinion of the government on three very controversial legislative proposals.

A "personal initiative", notes the report of the Council of Ministers.

These bills on the status of magistrates, defended by two deputies of the Front commun pour le Congo (FCC), political platform of ex-president Kabila, provoked violent demonstrations around the Parliament, the from supporters of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), party of President Tshisekedi.

The Prime Minister and a majority of the 66 government ministers are from the FCC. The arrested minister has the status of Deputy Prime Minister.

With AFP

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