All News items from Democratic Republic of Congo

Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi was assassinated at the age of 55, in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the early hours of July 31 2005, armed men broke into his home and shot him dead in front of his family. One of the attackers apparently said: "We were looking for you, and today is the day of your death.” Pascal was also the vice president of the regional human rights umbrella group in the Great Lakes, the Ligue des Droits de l'Homme dans la Région des Grands Lacs.  

A Front Line mission visited Rwanda, Burundi, the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya between 8 and 16 of April 2007. Front Line Director Mary Lawlor and Protection Coordinator Natacha O’Brien met with human rights defenders at risk and national authorities to discuss the protection and security of human rights defenders in the region  

Nelson Ntamba, a human rights defender and journalist with Radio Communautaire de Muanda in the Province of Bas-Congo was severely assaulted by a Police Commandant and by members of the Congolese Armed Forces on 2 February 2007.

Michel Ntamba went to the local Council offices on 2 February to ask the authorities about a recent armed confrontation, which took place in several towns including Natadi, Boma and Muanda. According to official sources, the fighting resulted in the death of about 100 people, which included a dozen soldiers and police officers.

On arrival, Nelson Ntamba witnessed soldiers beating two young men who are been accused of killing an army commander. Suddenly, Nelson Ntamba was violently seized by Police Commandant, Michel Mbuyi and accused of being a spy. Other soldiers rushed in and beat Nelson Ntamba for several minutes. He received severe head injuries. Nelson Ntamba has made a formal complaint against the Police Commandant. Michel Mbuyi.  

6 February 2006

Pascal Kabungulu - findings & recommendations of Front Line/Amnesty International mission in DRC: 1 – 11 November 2005

People interviewed:

Lt. Col. Majaliwa Mulindwa (Auditeur Supérieur or Military Prosecutor): Président de la Commission d’Enquête [phone interview]

Meli Meli Idumbo (Avocat Général): Vice-Président de la Commission d’Enquête

Anicet Muhimuzi Rutebuka (Major P2): Membre de la Commission d’Enquête

Didace Kaningini, Gouverneur (p.i.) de la Province du Sud-Kivu

Lt-Col Thierry Ilunga (Commandant de la 105e Brigade)

Maître Bisimwa (lawyer for the wife of Pascal Kabungulu)

Maurice Bahati, Chargé de l’Administration & Finances, Héitiers de la Justice

Maître Roger Muchuba (Héritiers de la Justice)

Roger Anderson (“petit frère” de Pascal Kabungulu)

Facts relating to the case:

· Pascal Kabungulu’s house is located about halfway down a hill (approximately 50 metres) & is accessed by a steep muddy footpath from the upper road. The track continues down to a lower road. · There are a number of other private houses in the same area. None is protected by a fence or other barrier.  

1 August DR Congo: Prominent Human Rights Defender Assassinated Transitional Government Must Investigate, Bring Killers to Justice

(London -- August 1, 2005) -- The Congolese government must immediately start thorough and independent investigations into yesterday’s assassination of human rights activist Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Front Line said today.

Pascal Kabungulu was the Secretary-General of Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice), a leading human rights organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was also the Vice-President of the regional umbrella Ligue des Droits de l’Homme dans la Région des Grands Lacs (LDGL).

Pascal Kabungulu was assassinated in his home in Bukavu, eastern Congo, in the early hours of July 31. Three armed men in uniform broke into his house, dragged him out of his bedroom and shot him in front of his family. Family members reported that just before his execution the attackers said, “We were looking for you and today is the day of your death.” The men stole Mr. Kabungulu’s laptop, a TV and a tape recorder.  

Front Line is very concerned about the security of human rights defenders in Bukavu and the surrounding area following the upsurge in fighting during the last days. Rebel forces, with Rwandan support, have taken control of Bukavu. There are fears of fighting spreading elsewhere in South Kivu. There are some indications that human rights defenders are being sought out and several have had to flee or go into hiding.

Front Line, in conjunction with Peace Brigades International (PBI), organised two training workshops for human rights defenders in Bukavu and Goma in May 2004. Front Line is calling on the international community to ensure that the various actors involved in the conflict ensure the protection of human rights defenders in the region, including those who have been forced to flee into neighbouring countries.

According to reports by Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme, Omar Kavota, the head of the Manigra branch of the African Association for Human Rights, has been arrested in the school where he teaches, along with the school supervisor. They were reportedly taken to the camp of the local militia, the Army of the Congolese People, and detained in the camp for 24 hours. During their detention, they were allegedly stripped naked, beaten and forced to roll in the mud. Omar Kavota and the school supervisor, Kalhili, had reportedly objected to the arbitrary arrest of one of their 16 year old students, who had allegedly been enrolled as a child soldier when he was nine years old, but had been reintegrated into normal civilian life over the last seven years.