DR Congo Court Awaits Mutamba in $50M FRIVAO Case

Former Democratic Republic of Congo Justice Minister Constant Mutamba is expected to appear before the Court of Appeal on Tuesday in the ongoing FRIVAO funds case, a high-profile investigation into the alleged embezzlement of compensation money intended for victims of Uganda-linked violence in eastern Congo as initially cited by reported by 7sur7.

The case centers on FRIVAO, a Congolese compensation mechanism created to manage reparations for victims of Uganda’s military activities in the DRC during regional conflicts that led to international legal disputes between Kinshasa and Kampala. The fund was established following rulings tied to the International Court of Justice process over Uganda’s role in eastern Congo during the wars of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Congolese prosecutors allege that more than $50 million linked to the compensation process may have been mismanaged or diverted. According to court proceedings, several individuals connected to the fund’s administration have already been questioned as part of the investigation.

Mutamba failed to appear during the previous hearing on May 4 after submitting medical documents to the court, including a medical certificate and imaging report, stating that he had been hospitalized and was physically unable to travel. Prosecutors nevertheless insisted on hearing his testimony, arguing that his statements are necessary to advance the investigation.

Court attention has also focused on earlier testimony from FRIVAO’s interim director general, who reportedly told judges that certain payments had been executed on the instructions of the former justice minister, including directives allegedly communicated verbally.

The Congolese government created FRIVAO to oversee compensation payments to civilians affected by conflict and foreign military operations in eastern DRC, where decades of instability involving armed groups and neighboring states have left millions displaced or affected by violence. The compensation framework has remained politically sensitive because it touches both on justice for victims and the management of large public funds.

Tuesday’s hearing is expected to clarify the respective roles of officials involved in approving or executing disputed payments. While prosecutors say Mutamba is currently appearing as a witness rather than a defendant, the case has attracted major public attention because of its legal and political implications.