DRC: 10 years after his assassination, Floribert Chebeya's family still demands justice

Audio 1:32

Text by: RFI Follow

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has been ten years since the defender of human rights, Floribert Chebeya Bahizire and his driver Fidèle Bazana were murdered in the capital Kinshasa. Their families and human rights organizations demand the reopening of the trial and charge General John Numbi, the ex-police chief who, since 2018, has become army general inspector. Monday in Kinshasa, the relatives gathered at the grave of Floribert Chebeya, they did not hide their disappointment more than a year after the coming to power of the new president, Félix Tshisekedi.

Publicity

with our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa

Difficult for the relatives of Floribert Chebeya to hold back their tears in front of the tomb, a simple cross with his name. "  I know he will never come back but that justice will be done!"  Said Adelaide, the older sister of the human rights defender. Each year, for ten years, his disappearance is commemorated.

The president of the Congolese NGO, the Voice of the Voiceless, was found dead in his car during the night of June 1 to 2, 2010. The body of his driver and friend Fidèle Bazana was never found.

With the advent of Félix Tshisekedi in power, Adélaïde Chebeya finally hoped for the reopening of a fairer trial on the assassination of her brother. "  I thought he would be sensitive like us but I don't know if it's fear, what prevents him from reacting to Floribert's problem . "

The family is trying to be patient. But the colleagues of the human rights defender are categorical, like Rostin Manketa , the director of the Voices of the Voiceless. "  We know that with the coalition, the President of the Republic has a lot of reserve, but he must poke around in the past and especially in the assassination of Floribert Chebeya, otherwise we will stop talking about the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We don't need a slogan! For us, General John Numbi, current inspector general of the armed forces, remains the number one suspect in this assassination!  "

Before disappearing, Floribert Chebeya had an appointment in the premises of the police headquarters with John Numbi, then police chief . A trial did take place, even leading to convictions, which relatives of the victims found complacent.

► Read also : Death of Floribert Chebeya in the DRC: Ten years later, Paul Mwilambwe is still awaiting trial

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Ground floor
• Justice

On the same subject

DRC / Floribert Chebeya

In the DRC, the police chief implicated in the assassination of Chebeya

DR Congo

DRC: nine years after their death, tribute to Floribert Chebeya Fidèle Bazana

Africa guest

Chebeya affair: 9 years later, Mwilambwe wants to return to the DRC to be tried