DRC: Many Shadows Seven Years After The Death Of Chebeya And Bazana

Photo of the archive of the Congolese human rights activist Floribert Chebeya. 

Seven (7) years ago in the DRC, Floribert Chebeya, founder of the human rights NGO Voice of the Voiceless, was found dead in his car and his driver Fidèle Bazana missing. Floribert Chebeya had gone the day before to a convocation by the Inspector-General of the National Police, General John Numbi.

Since then, the case has been tried in the first instance and on appeal by the Congolese courts. But 7 years after the shadow areas are still numerous. The relatives of the victims denounce a parody of justice and are now turning to Senegal, where proceeding against one of the suspects is underway.

The Chebeya-Bazana case has already been the subject of two trials before the Congolese courts. In 2011, the Military Court of Kinshasa is pursuing eight police officers, three of whom are on the run. Four are condemned to death, another to perpetuity.

In 2015, the case is judged on appeal by the Kinshasa High Military Court. At the trial, four of the policemen were acquitted in their turn, for lack of evidence. The fifth, Colonel Daniel Mukalay, sees his sentence reduced to 15 years in prison. As for the prosecution of the three fugitives, they are suspended.

For the civil parties, it is the cold shower. They denounce "  a parody of justice  ". For them, there is nothing to expect from Congolese justice.

Hope is now on the side of Senegal. Since 2014, a procedure is under way, after a complaint of the families of the two victims against one of the Congolese police protagonist of this double murder: Paul Mwilambwe. He testifies to the involvement of some high-ranking Congolese police officers in this double assassination, beginning with General John Numbi, chief of police at the time of the events.

For families, this is the only glimmer of hope. They who from the beginning designate General Numbi as the sponsor of this assassination, but have never seen their request to be heard by honored justice.

 The sponsors of this vile assassination are completely free of their movements and have never responded to their actions.