The Congolese government is looking to Belgium to assist in its investigation into the murder of opposition member Chérubin Okende.
The 61-year-old politician was a member of parliament and spokesperson for the opposition party Ensemble pour la République (Together for the Republic), known as Ensemble and resigned as transport minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in December.
Okende, who was close to Moïse Katumbi, the main candidate from the opposition for the presidential elections due at the end of this year, was found dead in his car with gunshot wounds in the country's capital Kinshasa on Thursday.
His murder has shaken the country, and within hours, the Congolese government denounced the "assassination." Abroad, politicians, foreign diplomats and activists condemned the killing. The European Union, upon hearing the news, called on the authorities to shed light rapidly on the circumstances of this assassination and to bring those responsible to justice.
Risk of escalation
The country's government announced that authorities had been instructed to open an investigation into the "despicable act," later adding that this inquiry would involve "foreign services of friendly countries" to ensure transparency. It is particularly seeking outside expertise from Belgium and South Africa.
Rose Mutombo, Minister of Justice, has been instructed to contact Belgian authorities for the necessary expertise, and according to Kinshasa, the Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo has already indicated that the country is at his disposal.
President Félix Tshisekedi’s office posted on Twitter that he had heard the news in dismay. Meanwhile, Katumbi, considered to be one of Tshisekedi’s main opponents in the presidential elections slated for December, described the killing as a "political assassination."
The killing comes at a time of heightened political tension in Congo amid concerns that election preparations may be flawed. On May 30, Katumbi’s top adviser, Salomon Kalonda, was arrested and was subsequently charged with illegal possession of a weapon and undermining state security. Other opposition members have also been targeted, according to Human Rights Watch.
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The organisation added that, with less than six months before the general election, the investigation into Okende’s killing should be "prompt, impartial, and transparent," stressing that those responsible should be held to account. "Anything less risks escalating an already extremely tense situation."
