Chebeya case in DRC: "The tomb was already prepared by Colonel Djadjidja's man" (Eric Kibumbe)
A man with a t-shirt with the portraits of Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana awaits, in April 2013, the trial of one of the main defendants in the case.
(Illustrative photo) AFP PHOTO / JUNIOR D. KANNAH
Text by: RFI Follow
5 mins
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a third member of the police commando who killed the two human rights defenders Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana testifies.
Eric Kibumbe Banza, known as Saddam, admits having participated in the assassination of the assistant and driver of the founder of the Voice of the Voiceless and points to the responsibility of General Djadjidja in the plot.
The body of Fidèle Bazana has never been found.
Testimony.
Publicity
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RFI: Kibumbe Banza Eric, you are one of the Congolese police officers cited in the murder of two human rights defenders Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana Edady. Can you say what happened on June 1, 2010, the day of the murder
?
Eric Kibumbe Banza:
On June 1, 2010, I was at home. I observed a self-determined rest. My colleagues and I decided to ignore Colonel Daniel Mukalayi who was our leader. That day around 10 or 11 in the morning, I had received two phone calls: Major Christian Kenga Kenga and Colonel Daniel Mukalayi each ordered me to report to the Inspectorate General. from the national police because they needed me. And because the order of the chiefs is not discussed, I rushed to respond to this summons. On site at the general inspection, Christian Kenga Kenga was there with Hergil Paul Ilunga who was also supposed to be on leave. As soon as they arrived, the three of them were immediately received by Colonel Mukalayi who asked us to wait outside his office.Major Christian was also accompanied by his collaborators: Jacques Mugabo, Ilunga Doudou and his driver Alain Longwa Kayeye, who live in his residence. There was also a certain Lieutenant Bruno.
Why were you called?
We were told about a mission to be carried out, without giving the nature of this mission.
At around 2 p.m., we received some money to go and eat.
In the early evening, the leaders asked Hergil Paul Ilunga to take possession of Colonel Mukalayi's command jeep, for which he was responsible for security, I was the colonel's bodyguard.
The vehicle of the Canine Brigade was entrusted to Lieutenant Bruno.
Major Kenga Kenga had his vehicle.
And how did Bazana end up in your vehicle?
We had used a subterfuge.
As it was getting dark, he was pulled out of the Mazda he was driving and placed on my watch in the Jeep I was in.
It was then that Jacques Mugabo and Doudou came to help me.
The mission that had been assigned to me, my mission to me, Saddam Kibumbe, was to execute Bazana Eddady.
That was my mission, the mission that I admit having carried out… the mission concerning Bazana.
How did you go about executing Bazana?
We had suffocated Bazana with the sachets before putting tape on him.
I had been helped by Jacques and Doudou.
Hergil was at the wheel of the vehicle with the engine running, ready for departure.
After putting tape on him, Bazana stopped breathing.
Jacques and Doudou then went down for the mission concerning Chebeya.
During this time, I had stayed with Bazana's corpse… I had stayed with Bazana's corpse until the starting signal.
In our vehicle, there was only me, the remains of Bazana and Hergil.
I was sitting in the back of the Defender jeep supporting Bazana's body.
The convoy leaves the general inspectorate of the police for what destination?
At the signal, we set off.
I was sitting in the back of the Defender jeep holding Bazana's body, Hergil behind the wheel.
After passing the RTNC gas station, we took Shaumba Avenue, before starting the climb to our destination which was Mitendi ... But, halfway, at the Weather City, the engine was stopped.
And this is where our old relations of the GR that were posted come in.
They pushed us.
And we took the road back to Mitendi, up to General Djadjidja's concession, at the time of the events, Colonel Djadjidja. That was our destination.
What did you do in this concession?
We entered the depths of the concession.
It is there that the body of Bazana was buried, the tomb was already prepared by the man of Colonel Djadjidja who lives in the concession, it is an adjutant whose name would be Ngoyi.
This gentleman was already ready to bury Bazana's corpse.
And you leave with Chebeya's body
?
Before leaving, we transferred Chebeya's body from Christian Ngoyi's Jeep Defender to his vehicle, the Mazda.
And we went to drop the Mazda with the body on the main road in Mitendi.
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DRC
Floribert Chebeya and Fidèle Bazana
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