In Congo-Brazzaville, the head of state, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, dismissed nine magistrates during a meeting of the Congolese Superior Council of the Judiciary which he chaired on March 27, 2023.
As reported by Radio France International, at the end of the so-called ordinary session of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Sassou-Nguesso dismissed, demoted and reprimanded several magistrates.
A total of nine magistrates were dismissed for unspecified reasons. But without getting specific Sassou Nguesso referred to corruption among senior justice officials.
Was it political retaliation or the actual will to fix the corruption epidemic that has been destroying the country since the genocidal Nguesso and his family took over power by force in 1997?
Because of the fear of retaliation, no journalist bothered to ask him for the actual reasons behind those dismissals. As it is internationally known, the dictator does not respect his national press and treats them like non-existent.
Pretending there was corruption within the Judicial, Sassou Nguesso, the most corrupt Congolese to date, declared that “there is the worm in the fruit” meaning corrupt magistrates. Thererefore “we must destroy it” he said. “Maybe not just in the judicial sector, but in all other sectors of the state as well” he continued.
In a country where the Guesso family have been subject to high-profile corruption cases and mismagement without any legal consequence, it is surprising to see a few barely known vulnerable Congolese be scapegoated by the heavyweight record holder champion of corrupt activities in the country, Sassou Nguesso and Co.
Even worse, he does not bother to give any rational and direct explanation of the matter to journalists or even the congress.
Reacting to Sassou Nguesso’s speech, Carmel Bolongo, a Congolese student commented on Facebook:
“Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, speaking of law in Congo Brazzaville, is deplorable. He appoints the magistrates who obey his orders. of the power. In Congo the law applies only to the just but the unjust will be acquitted. The Banana Republic is still going badly with Mr Denis Sassou Nguesso.”
Without a new President who respects the law and fights corruption to its core, the Congo, like other subsaharan African countries, will keep speeding straight towards the dead end.