Four human rights defenders, members of the organisation, Amis de Nelson Mandela pour la défense des Droits Humains – Friends of Nelson Mandela for the Defence of Human Rights (ANMDH), have been arbitrarily arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) on 31 August 2009 in Kinshasa. Mr Robert Ilunga Numbi is the president of the ANMDH, Ms Marie-Thérèse Kalonda is the head of the Woman and Family programme for ANMDH, Mr Jean-Paul Itupa, is the head of public relations of the Kalamu section of ANMDH and Mr Ndumba Toutou is a member of ANMDH, an organisation which promotes conflict resolution and human rights in the DRC.

Further Information

On 31 August 2009 at around 3.40p.m., the four defendants were arrested by three officers of the ANR and taken to the ANR office in Gombe. Robert Ilunga Numbi was taken inside the office while the other three defenders were kept in the entrance. At about 20.45, Marie-Therese Kalonda, Jean-Paul ITUP Ndumba Tutu and were released. Robert Numbi remains in custody.

The ANR agents did not give a reason for the arrest. However, according to reports, the arrest and detention of the human rights defenders are related to a news conference that the ANMDH held in Kinshasa on 24 August 2009 in which the ANMDH denounced the mistreatment suffered by staff of the Societe Generale Industrielle (SGI), based in Kasangulu in the province of Bas Congo.

Front Line is concerned that the arrest of four members of the ANMDH and arbitrary detention of its chairman intended to intimidate ANMDH and are motivated by their peaceful and legitimate work in defense of human rights.