The Kinkole High Court delivered its verdict this Friday, April 3, 2026, in the David Balanganayi case. This doctor, whose acts of violence against a patient in the delivery room had outraged the Democratic Republic of Congo, received a two-month suspended prison sentence .

A judgment far removed from the prosecution's demands

Although the prosecution had requested an exemplary sentence of ten years' imprisonment , the judges opted for considerable leniency. Several serious charges were dismissed during the proceedings.

1. Attempted murder: Abandoned during the trial.
2. Torture and assault: Dismissed during deliberations.
3. Charge upheld: Only "simple assault and battery" was validated by the court.

Between relief for the defense and hope for the activists

For the doctor's lawyer, Joël Cadet Ndanga, this verdict is a victory against media and political pressure, denouncing a "theatricalization" of the case.

Conversely, while the sentence may seem lenient, women's rights organizations see it as a major symbolic step forward. For Dorcas Bwalelo of the NGO Usawa Initiative , this trial marks a historic turning point in the fight against gynecological and obstetric violence (GOV) in the DRC:

"No professional practice can justify prioritizing the flaws of a system over a woman's suffering."

State responsibility

The court did not only target the doctor. The Congolese state, as the employer and authority responsible for the hospital, was also found liable. It will have to pay damages to the plaintiffs, the amount of which has been capped at $2,500 .