WITNESS PROTECTION UNDER CONGOLESE LAW

Crime in the Democratic Republic of Congo has intensified and modernized over the last ten years. Criminals are using new technologies to commit their acts threatening the security and tranquility of the population.To combat this crime effectively it is crucial that witnesses have confidence in the criminal justice system. They need to feel protected from intimidation and violence in order to cooperate with the police and the justice system.Yet Congolese legislation does not protect ordinary witnesses. Witnesses who shed essential light on an investigation or trial are left unprotected by the state whether before during or after the trial.It is therefore urgent that Congolese legislators as well as jurists and legal professionals address this issue and find an appropriate solution. Protecting witnesses is essential to eradicating this problem which affects justice and security in the DRC.