UN mission in DR of Congo condemns killing of human rights activist

The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has strongly condemned the murder of a human rights activist in the eastern region of the country and appealed to the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly.

In a release issued today, MONUC Deputy Spokesman Mamadou Bah described the recent murder of Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi in Bukavu as a cowardly killing. The victim was working for a non-governmental organization (NGO) called “Héritiers de la justice,” he said.

Mr. Bah extended condolences to Mr. Kibembi’s family and appealed to the Congolese authorities “to initiate a swift and effective investigation and to bring to justice those found guilty and punish them accordingly."

With regard to the eastern region of Ituri, MONUC military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Hubert said, the situation was calm allowing 23,363 electors to register. Meanwhile, MONUC has set up five quick response elements to deal with any potential threat of a logistical or security nature.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) for the DRC William Swing was scheduled to go to Ituri tomorrow, stopping in Bunia, Aru and Kpandroma, MONUC said. During his trip he would visit voter registration centres “to encourage the population and to applaud the high interest they have shown in the electoral process."

Some 100 peacekeepers conducted a cordon and search operation on 27 July in the villages of the Mukembo collectivity, about 65 kilometres southeast of their base at Mahagi, after hearing that members of the Front for National Integration (FNI) militia had attacked Ndawe village and killed many people on 30 June, MONUC said.

When the troops arrived there they were told that about 100 FNI militia members had gone on a rampage and killed 10 villagers, it said.

MONUC’s medical team also set up a temporary medical camp to treat 315 patients, most of whom were suffering from skin diseases, and later handed it over to the Red Cross.

Meanwhile, the mission gave Kindu’s 67-year-old Central Prison beds, tables and kitchenware as part of its humanitarian quick impacts programme (QIPS). MONUC said over the weekend that a local non-governmental organization (NGO), the Nyoka Agro-Pastoral Development Programme, handed over the items, valued at $4,200.