Brazzaville opens criminal session with around 50 cases
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Journal de Brazza
The Brazzaville Court of Appeal opened on 4 November a criminal session covering November and December 2026 and January 2027, with around 50 cases listed. Ten jurors selected by lot swore an oath at the opening, in the presence of Justice Minister Aimé Ange Wilfrid Bininga, reports Journal de Brazza.
The Brazzaville Court of Appeal opened a criminal session on Wednesday 4 November 2026, running until January 2027 and covering around 50 cases. Ten jurors selected by lot swore an oath at the Palace of Justice to assist the professional judges, according to Journal de Brazza.
The session covers November and December 2026 as well as January 2027. The ceremony was held in the presence of Aimé Ange Wilfrid Bininga, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and the Promotion of Indigenous Peoples. The president of the criminal court, Jean Ngombo, then installed the jurors after the submissions by the public prosecutor Priva Roméo Pathel Itoua and the pleadings by the president of the Brazzaville Bar, Andrée Brigitte Nzingoula.
Among the cases listed is the murder of Anne Félicité Massamba-Débat, the daughter of former Congolese president Alphonse Massamba-Débat, who was killed in Brazzaville on the night of 13 June 2023. Five people are being prosecuted in the case, including Nicole Julie Eliane Massamba-Débat, Don Guelfred Matsounga and Brunel Germain Milandou.
The court will also examine the case of lawyer Bob Kaben Massouka, who has been detained since July 2025 and is being prosecuted with six co-defendants for criminal conspiracy and attempting to undermine state security. Another case concerns around 20 people, mostly foreigners, being prosecuted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and use of forged passports, and corruption.
