On the night of 1 October 2009, eight men raided the home of human rights defender, Ms Rebecca Agamile, in Bunia, and threatened her and her daughter with rape and death. Rebecca Agamile is treasurer of Solidarité Féminine pour la Paix et le Développement – SOFEPADI (Women Solidarity for Peace and Development), an organisation based in Bunia which documents human rights violations and promotes women's rights.

Further Information

On 1 October 2009, at about 10 pm, eight men wearing balaclavas broke into Rebecca Agamile's home in Bunia. Seven of the men were armed with firearms and one had a knife. Once inside, they blamed Rebecca Agamile and SOFEPADI for accusing members of the armed groups of human rights abuses and threatened her and her 16-year-old daughter with rape and death. The eight men remained inside for some time and ate some of the food that Rebecca Agamile was eating when they broke in. A neighbour intervened upon hearing shooting from Rebecca Agamile's home. It is reported that he had to pay the sum of 1850 USD for the eight men to leave and let Rebecca Agamile free. They took away some personal belongings including her mobile phone.

On 7 October 2009, relatives of Rebecca Agamile received a call from the phone stolen by the attackers on 1 October. The caller threatened to go to her home again that night to kill her.

SOFEPADI reports that the number of threats against its members has increased since 2008. Armed groups accuse them of collaborating with the International Criminal Court and providing information on human rights abuses.

Front Line is deeply concerned for the safety of Rebecca Agamile and believes that the threats against her are the result of her legitimate human rights work, in particular exposing human rights violations perpetrated by armed groups in the region and providing information to international bodies.

Front Line urges the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the threats Rebecca Agamile has received as well as the attack to her home, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Take immediate measures to guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Rebecca Agamile and her family;

3. Ensure that all human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, carrying out their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, are able to operate free of restrictions and reprisals.