DRC: after revelations on the death of opponent Chérubin Okende, a former minister prosecuted

The former Minister of Tourism, Modero Nsimba, faces a flagrant trial. Arrested on Saturday, he was Thursday March 21 before the Court of Cassation in Kinshasa. His arrest followed the broadcast of controversial audio on social networks.

Congolese political opponent Chérubin Okende, here in March 2023, was found dead on July 13, 2013, his body riddled with bullets. AP - Samy Ntumba Shambuyi

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Patient Ligodi

In the

DRC

, the recording in question, attributed to the former Minister of Tourism, contains a discussion on the death of the former Minister of Transport,

Chérubin Okende

. According to this audio, two members of the presidential family, Christian and Jacques Tshisekedi, as well as Christian Ndaywel, head of the military intelligence staff, are allegedly involved in this affair. 

In this recording, we hear a man say that one of President Félix Tshisekedi's brothers had a land conflict with Chérubin Okende. According to comments made in the audio, the brother asked military intelligence services to arrest the former Minister of Transport, who was allegedly hooded before dying. 

He is being prosecuted in particular for “

 spreading false rumors

 ”

Modero Nsimba recognizes his voice in the audio, but does not fully confirm the content. He says he remembers discussing with one of his colleagues an article from

Jeune Afrique

on the circumstances of the death of Chérubin Okende. He claims not to be aware that it was recorded and denies being the person who shared it. 

Modero Nsimba is being prosecuted for “

 spreading false rumors

 ” and “

 damaging accusations 

”. His defense argued that the court was not competent to judge their client, because his mandate as a member of the National Assembly has not yet been validated. 

The case will continue this Friday with the public prosecutor's requisitions and possibly the pleadings. At the end of February, the investigation into

the death of Chérubin Okende

concluded that it was a suicide, but this thesis is contested by the family of the deceased opponent. 

Read alsoDRC: the funeral of opponent Chérubin Okende began eight months after his death

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