Assassination of Chérubin Okende: a dark new chapter in the political crisis in the DRC
Thursday morning was marked by a tragic event that shook both national and international opinion. The bloodied body riddled with bullets of Chérubin Okende, spokesman for the opponent Katumbi and candidate for the next presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was found on the “Heavy weight” road in Kinshasa. This terrible news plunged the country into mourning and rekindled fears about the deep political crisis in the DRC.
The exact circumstances of this assassination have yet to be determined, but one thing is indisputable: Chérubin Okende was murdered in cold blood by deadly bullets. The day before his death, he had been summoned to the High Court to be questioned about his activities and his assets after his time at the Ministry of Transport. According to his entourage, he had asked his bodyguard to file a request for a 24-hour postponement.
By Wednesday afternoon his relatives reported him abducted, his phones were off and no one had heard from him. His bodyguard also reported him missing from the parking lot of the Constitutional Court. This series of tragic events recalls the dark hours of human rights activist Floribert Chebeya and his driver, who were murdered in 2010. The parallel between these two cases raises questions about the persistent presence of a climate of violence politics in the DRC.
This murder occurs in a context of deep political crisis in the DRC, with growing tensions between the oppositions and the regime in place. Opponents regularly denounce a “dictatorship” on the part of President Félix Tshisekedi and a regime that would impose a “single thought” in a country that has not yet healed years under the reign of Joseph Kabila.
The assassination of Chérubin Okende thus tarnishes Tshisekedi’s reputation and fuels accusations that his regime is seeking to muzzle the opposition. This tragedy also raises questions about the security of political opponents in the DRC and raises concerns about the state of democracy in the country.
The Congolese authorities must shed full light on this assassination and bring those responsible to justice. It is essential to guarantee the security of political opponents and to foster a climate conducive to democratic debate. The DRC needs political stability and respect for democratic principles to move towards a peaceful and prosperous future.
The murder of Chérubin Okende is a tragedy that recalls the fragility of the political situation in the DRC. Let’s hope that this tragic event serves as a catalyst for deeper reforms aimed at guaranteeing freedom of expression and protecting the rights of the opposition in the country