AFRICA/DR CONGO - Fear in Kinshasa for the discovery of the bodies of people killed in the river N'Djili

Thursday, 14 July 2016 extrajudicial killings  

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - In Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, the recovery of corpses in the N'Djili River, in Kingabwa district, between the municipalities of Limete and Masina continue.
On July 11, the Prosecutor General in Kinshasa confirmed the discovery of three bodies in the river, bringing the number of corpses recovered since July 3 to six. According to the locals, however, at least a dozen bodies have been found so far in the river.
Authorities say the victims were killed by members of criminal gangs, called "Kulunas".
Some local NGOs, such as Voix des Sans voix pour les droits de l'homme (VSV), have become spokesmen of the concerns of the inhabitants of Kinshasa who fear they are extrajudicial executions on political grounds. According to witnesses the bodies show signs of torture. It is thought that the victims, all male adults, were tortured and killed elsewhere and then were thrown into the river.
These mysterious murders increase, among the residents of Kinshasa, uncertainty related to the upcoming presidential elections to be held later this year, but the date has not yet been established.
In this climate of fear, VSV calls on the authorities to shed light on the murders, through an independent investigation, in order to dispel any doubt about the political motivation for these crimes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/07/2016)


Share: