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OUTSTANDING  PLEADING : UNIKIN IMPRESSES AT THE 2024 MOOT COURT PLEADING COMPETITION THANKS TO “LES LÉOPARDS JURIDIQUES”

By Reagan Baseya Mbungu updated on May 24, 2024

The 2024 edition of the French version of the moot court competition, organized at The International Criminal Court (ICC) by La Haye Academy of International Law, saw the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) secure second place. The competition, initiated in 2022 by La Haye Academy of International Law, aims to stimulate the study of international criminal law, train young jurists and strengthen skills and knowledge in international criminal law. 

A total of 42 universities from 17 different countries participated in the competition, with UNIKIN and Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas reaching the final phase. The competition staged a fictitious case, with each team presenting arguments in the roles of the legal representatives of the victims and the defense. The jury, composed of ICC Second Vice-President Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou (jury president), ICC Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, and ICC jurist Léo Jolivet, finally awarded the win to Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas on a slight error by our compatriots. 

The UNIKIN team was headed by four students from the Faculty of Law, Maxime Kitengie, Deborah Sabanga, Schekinha Mujinga and Christopher Mpiana coached by Japhet Tekila and Bruno Kalala from UNIKIN’s Department of International Public Law and International Relations. They put their oratory skills to good use, highlighting the intellectual potential of the DRC against the winners from the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, comprising Jérémie Boisfer, Adèle Siry, Cyrielle Danzin and Joy Rodrigues Dos Santos. 

The two finalist teams, representing the universities of Paris II Panthéon-Assas (France) and Kinshasa (DRC), delivered high-quality pleadings, demonstrating exceptional mastery of international criminal law and ICC procedures. The Congolese participants represented our proud nation by tackling complex issues relating to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, demonstrating legal rigor and convincing argumentation. 

The UNIKIN team lost to Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas in the last four of the competition, held on Friday May 24, 2024, in Courtroom I of the ICC. Despite this defeat, UNIKIN student Deborah Sabanga won the “Best speaker” prize. 

A springboard for future Congolese lawyers 

This event gave our young talents the opportunity to confront real-life situations, hone their advocacy and legal argumentation skills, and prepare for their future careers in international law. Indeed, this competition allowed students to put into practice the theoretical knowledge they had acquired in class, develop their advocacy and argumentation skills, and stand out in a highly competitive field. 

Beyond the academic aspect, this pleading competition also served to promote the values of international justice and the fight against impunity. By confronting concrete cases of international crimes, students are made aware of the challenges of international criminal justice and the importance of the ICC in prosecuting the perpetrators of most serious crimes. They become aware of the crucial impact that international criminal law can have on the protection of human rights, the prevention of atrocities and the promotion of peace and security in the world. 

For the finalists of this competition, such as UNIKIN student Deborah Sabanga who won the “Best speaker” prize, this victory represents a real consecration. Apart from building confidence, it marks the start of a promising career in the legal world and provides an important springboard for their professional future.  

The participation of UNIKIN and Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas in this prestigious competition demonstrates the talent and dedication of Congolese students. Their outstanding performance highlights the level of excellence that can be achieved by future Congolese jurists, and it also reinforces the country’s reputation in the legal field on an international scale. 

The ICC Moot Court Competition is much more than just an academic competition. It offers all Congolese law and law-related students a unique opportunity to learn, to distinguish themselves and to prepare for their future careers. But more particularly, our formidable winners in the persons of Maxime, Deborah, Schekinha and Christopher also raise awareness among Congolese thirsty for knowledge of the crucial issues of international justice and encourage them to become committed players in the promotion of peace, justice, and human rights on a global scale. 

Empowering Talented Students: A Path to National Progress 

The remarkable performance of the Léopards Juridiques, who finished second and won the prize for Best Speaker, not only made their school proud, but also inspired them to highlight their talents at the highest level. Upon their return home, they met with Dr Chantal Yelu Mulop, coordinator of the department specializing in youth, violence against women and human trafficking, and the student delegation had the opportunity to share their academic and professional ambitions. Dr Mulop, impressed by their performance and aspirations, pledged her support to help them successfully navigate their future path. 

The Coordination in charge of Youth, Combating Violence against Women, and Trafficking in Persons has recognized the potential of these talented students and is committed to ensuring that they are provided with the necessary opportunities for their academic and professional development. This support is not only beneficial to the students themselves but also to the nation, as it cultivates a culture of excellence and achievement. 

In return, they expressed their desire to meet with the President to present him with the prize that they won, as a testament to their commitment to excellence and their belief in the power of their achievements to inspire others. By highlighting their accomplishments to the highest levels of leadership, they hope to not only receive recognition but also to pave the way for future generations of students to follow in their footsteps. 

Dr. Chantal Yelu Mulop recognizes the potential impact these students can have on society and is eager to support them in their journey towards success by facilitating their meeting with the President. Dr. Mulop aims to provide them with a platform to showcase their achievements and inspire others to reach for their dreams. 

We expect the government to exemplify the power of mentorship and support in fostering the next generation of leaders. To give the students not only the opportunities for growth and development but also encourage them to become agents of positive change in their communities. 

With the right support of dedicated individuals like Dr. Chantal Yelu Mulop and the backing of government initiatives, these talented students are poised to make a significant impact on society and contribute to the progress and development of the nation as a whole. 



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS