Floribert Chebeya
Encyclopedia
Floribert Chebeya Bahizire (13 September 1963, Bukavu
– 2 June 2010, Kinshasa
) was a leading Congo
lese human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, hailed by the United Nations
as "a champion of human rights". His death led to calls for an investigation from more than 50 organisations, including Amnesty International
and Human Rights Watch
, many countries and several senior UN officials, including Ban Ki-moon
, Navi Pillay, Alan Doss
and Philip Alston
.
, his successor President Laurent-Désiré Kabila
and the incumbent government at the time of his death.
, on 1 June 2010. It is unknown if this meeting occurred. Chebeya texted his wife to inform her he had arrived at police HQ for the meeting but that was the last contact he had with the outside world. He was later found dead by passers-by in the backseat of his car in a suburb of Kinshasa
, with some clothing removed. Chebeya's driver had disappeared. Female hair and condoms were discovered alongside him in the car. His trousers were unzipped. No blood or bullet holes were found. However, Chebeya had blood in several orifices.
ordered authorities to investigate this incident and condolenced with Chebeya's family.
Chief of police in Kinshasa, General Jean De Dieu Oleko, said police would investigate the circumstances.
Voice of the Voiceless's Dolly Ibefo asked for an independent autopsy
.
On 6 June, the Congolese head of police was suspended and three police officers were arrested. Interior Minister Adolphe Lumanu
said in a statement read out on television that President Joseph Kabila
was "determined that all light be shed" and "To allow the enquiry to be conducted smoothly, the national defence council decided as a precaution to suspend inspector general John Numbi".
's deputy Africa director, Veronique Aubert, issued a statement upon hearing of his death: "We are stunned and appalled by the suspicious death of such a prominent and respected human rights defender". Amnesty would like his death to be investigated.
and another was sentenced to life imprisonment
after being convicted by a military court of planning and carrying out Chebeya's assassination. Three of the former were absent from court during sentencing - these were believed to have carried out the actual assassination. Three other policemen were acquitted of any part in Chebeya's assassination. Many hours were spent in the reading out of the verdict, with hundreds of people turning up to hear it.
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
– 2 June 2010, Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
) was a leading Congo
Kongo people
The Bakongo or the Kongo people , also sometimes referred to as Kongolese or Congolese, is a Bantu ethnic group which lives along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Pointe-Noire to Luanda, Angola...
lese human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, hailed by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as "a champion of human rights". His death led to calls for an investigation from more than 50 organisations, including Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, many countries and several senior UN officials, including Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
, Navi Pillay, Alan Doss
Alan Doss
Alan Claude Doss CMG is a British administrator who has spent his entire professional life in the service of the United Nations working on peacekeeping, development and humanitarian assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe as well as at United Nations Headquarters in New York.On 24 October 2007, he...
and Philip Alston
Philip Alston
Philip G. Alston is an international law scholar and human rights practitioner. He is John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and co-Chair of the law school's Center for Human Rights and Global Justice...
.
Career
He worked from the early 1990s until his sudden suspicious death in 2010, of which the cause has yet to be established. He was leader of the Voix des Sans Voix (Voice of the Voiceless) human rights organisation. His work led to him being issued with repetitive threats from police. Throughout his life Chebeya denounced several governments and rulers, including the dictator Mobutu Sese SekoMobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
, his successor President Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17, 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, until his assassination by his bodyguards on January 18, 2001...
and the incumbent government at the time of his death.
Death
Chebeya had been asked to meet with Congo's Inspector General of Police, the national police chief, General John NumbiJohn Numbi
Major General John Numbi is, , the Inspector General of the National Police of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.- History :Numbi is of the same Lubakat group as former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila and was part of the gendarme in Katanga...
, on 1 June 2010. It is unknown if this meeting occurred. Chebeya texted his wife to inform her he had arrived at police HQ for the meeting but that was the last contact he had with the outside world. He was later found dead by passers-by in the backseat of his car in a suburb of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, with some clothing removed. Chebeya's driver had disappeared. Female hair and condoms were discovered alongside him in the car. His trousers were unzipped. No blood or bullet holes were found. However, Chebeya had blood in several orifices.
Congolese response
Congolese Interior Minister Adolphe LumanuAdolphe Lumanu
Adolphe Lumanu Mulenda Bwenda N’sefu is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Adolphe Lumanu was born in the Kabinda District.He became a professor of Political Science.He was elected a national deputy for the electoral district of Kabinda....
ordered authorities to investigate this incident and condolenced with Chebeya's family.
Chief of police in Kinshasa, General Jean De Dieu Oleko, said police would investigate the circumstances.
Voice of the Voiceless's Dolly Ibefo asked for an independent autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
.
On 6 June, the Congolese head of police was suspended and three police officers were arrested. Interior Minister Adolphe Lumanu
Adolphe Lumanu
Adolphe Lumanu Mulenda Bwenda N’sefu is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Adolphe Lumanu was born in the Kabinda District.He became a professor of Political Science.He was elected a national deputy for the electoral district of Kabinda....
said in a statement read out on television that President Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...
was "determined that all light be shed" and "To allow the enquiry to be conducted smoothly, the national defence council decided as a precaution to suspend inspector general John Numbi".
International response
Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
's deputy Africa director, Veronique Aubert, issued a statement upon hearing of his death: "We are stunned and appalled by the suspicious death of such a prominent and respected human rights defender". Amnesty would like his death to be investigated.
- Several representatives of the UN responded.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, paid tribute: "For more than 20 years, Chebeya Bahizire had survived many death threats, arrests, and ill treatment due to his work as a human rights defender. He believed in the cause of human rights and was not afraid to pursue it against all odds".
- UN investigator for extrajudicial executions Philip AlstonPhilip AlstonPhilip G. Alston is an international law scholar and human rights practitioner. He is John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and co-Chair of the law school's Center for Human Rights and Global Justice...
suggested "official responsibility" during a speech he delivered to the United Nations Human Rights CouncilUnited Nations Human Rights CouncilThe United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
in Geneva. - UN mission head in Congo Alan DossAlan DossAlan Claude Doss CMG is a British administrator who has spent his entire professional life in the service of the United Nations working on peacekeeping, development and humanitarian assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe as well as at United Nations Headquarters in New York.On 24 October 2007, he...
is reported to have said: "The Special Representative calls for the authorities to initiate a prompt investigation so that full light can be shed on this death". - UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
soon requested an independent investigation into Chebeya's death and promised to help in any way he could.
- The European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
called for an independent investigation into Chebeya's death.- Congolese authorities said they would permit Dutch experts to assist with the autopsy on Chebeya's body.
- The UK's African minister Henry Bellingham asked for "a full and transparent investigation". Kikaya Bin Karubi, the Congolese ambassador to the UK, told the BBC on 9 June that a group called Les Resistants Combattants had claimed responsibility for an arson attack on his London home, which destroyed several vehicles and damaged his house, and that it was an act of retaliation for Chebeya's death.
- Organisations in the Republic of the Congo called for an independent investigation into Chebeya's death.
- The United States called for an independent investigation into Chebeya's death.
Convictions
In June 2011, four policemen were sentenced to deathCapital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and another was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
after being convicted by a military court of planning and carrying out Chebeya's assassination. Three of the former were absent from court during sentencing - these were believed to have carried out the actual assassination. Three other policemen were acquitted of any part in Chebeya's assassination. Many hours were spent in the reading out of the verdict, with hundreds of people turning up to hear it.
See also
- Human rights in the Democratic Republic of the CongoHuman rights in the Democratic Republic of the CongoIn all areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the human rights record remained poor, and numerous serious abuses were committed. Unlawful killings, disappearances, torture, rape, and arbitrary arrest and detention by security forces increased during the year, and the transitional government...
- Reebok Human Rights AwardReebok Human Rights AwardThe Reebok Human Rights Award honours activists under the age of 30 who fight for human rights through non-violent means. Each year, the award is given to four or five individuals. Each receives a grant of US$50,000 that must be used to support their human rights work. The awards are underwritten...