On July 31st, 2005, Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, a Congolese human rights defender, Executive Secretary of the NGO “Héritiers de la Justice (Heirs of Justice) was shot dead in Bukavu, at his house and in front of his family, by a group of men wearing military clothes.
He had denounced severe human rights violations (such as war crimes) perpetrated by rebel groups and the Congolese army. Until today, the case is blocked. Most of the suspects are still free while others are in jail, waiting since six years for the reopening of the trial and the verdict. A huge number of NGOs (both Congolese and international), among which Protection International, issued a press release requesting the Congolese authorities to guarantee the organization of a trial.
More generally, these organizations ask the Congolese authorities to implement the needed measures to protect Congolese human rights defenders and make light of the assassinations of Serge Maheshe, Didace Namujimbo, Bruno Koko, Georges Kateta, Floribet Chebeya et Fidèle Bazana.
The murder of Pascal Kabungulu was at the heart of a 2006 Protection International’s documentary “The Weapons of Impunity”.