RDC: Chebeya’s death looks like government involvement

By on June 7, 2010
More than 50 human rights organisations called Saturday for an independent investigation into the death of Floribert Chebeya, the head of one of the most prominent human rights organisations in Congo, Voice of the Voiceless. The appeal for an independent probe into this assassination has been addressed, in an open letter, to DRC President Joseph Kabila.

This assassination, perpetrated on last Wednesday, continues to make the Congolese administration uncomfortable. On Sunday, Congolese Minister of the Interior confirmed the suspension of General John Numbi, general inspector of the national police forces. He announced that president Kabila himself is «determined to make all the light “on this affair”. The officer would have been finally arrested. He would be suspected to be involved with the murder of Floribert Chebeya. One of his lieutenants, Colonel Daniel Moukalay, would have declared to have acted on the General Numbi’s order. The colonel would have admitted the murder of Floribert Chebeya, without having intended to kill him.
Sources are reporting that John Numbi was afraid of being implicated in an investigation lunched by Floribert Chebeya, in particular about the massacres in the provinces of “Lower-Congo” and Ecuador.
Another thesis would explain the murder of the activist by its anti-campaign against the visit of the Belgium king to assist to the ceremonies of the fiftieth anniversary of the independence. Not a credible theory at all has estimated some of his colleagues.
Several other officers and agents of the intelligence and special services of the police were also arrested with colonel Moukalay. Among them, would also be a chief warrant officer of the presidential guards.

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