Goma, May 25, 2024 – The High Court of Goma witnessed an epic battle against the illegal trafficking of wildlife. The prosecution, the law’s armed branch, delivered an uncompromising indictment, demanding a sentence of 10 years of main penal servitude against Mr. Al Katanty Djaffar and his accomplices.
The public prosecutor, Magistrate Kansange Mazambi Socrate, thundered in the courtroom, also demanding the payment of 25 million Congolese francs in damages. “Consequently, I will sentence you, Mr. Al Katanty Djaffar, to 10 years of main penal servitude, as well as a fine of 25 million Congolese francs,” declared the magistrate, ordering his immediate arrest at the same time.
This judicial victory was hailed by several actors committed to the defense of the environment and human rights. The Congolese Alert for the Environment and Human Rights (ACEDH) welcomed the indictment, stating that this case was emblematic of their struggle for nature preservation.
the lawyer Éric Kambale, lawyer for ACEDH, emphasized the importance of this decision, stating: “Our organization advocates for environmental protection, and we are pleased that this case has been treated with the severity it deserves.”
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) also expressed satisfaction with this judicial decision, applauding the authorities’ hard work to end wildlife trafficking in the region.
However, the road to justice is fraught with obstacles. During the trial, Mr. Al Katanty Djaffar pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. But the president of the High Court, Magistrate Georges Amisi, closed the debate by promising that the law would be respected and that the case would be deliberated with all necessary attention.
This trial is the result of an operation carried out in May 2022, when a group of traffickers was apprehended at the Congolese-Ugandan border, attempting to smuggle fifty specimens of wild species. Since then, the justice system has acted with determination, and these nature criminals will soon face their fate in court.
In a province where fauna and flora are often exploited for lucrative purposes, this decision marks a crucial turning point in the fight for environmental preservation. North Kivu, the cradle of natural landscapes of stunning beauty, deserves to be protected against those who seek to exploit its riches for their own gain.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama