The Voice of the Voiceless for Human Rights (VSV) recently expressed its concern over the arrest of Mr. Luc Malembe N’Kuru, executive and communicator of the opposition political party Engagement for Citizenship and Development (ECiDe). In an official statement, the organization calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
According to the information available, Mr. Luc Malembe N’Kuru was apprehended by soldiers after visiting a member of civil society detained at the Military Court in Bunia, in the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo. . The precise reasons for his arrest remain unclear, but the VSV stresses that it could be linked to its political positions and its denunciations of practices of harassment and extortion suffered by local economic operators.
In its press release, the VSV calls on the provincial authorities of Ituri to respect the fundamental rights and individual freedoms of Mr. Luc Malembe N’Kuru. The organization also emphasizes the importance of preserving freedom of expression and opinion for all citizens, including political actors.
The VSV also launches an urgent appeal to the Congolese authorities to work actively for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Luc Malembe N’Kuru. While acknowledging that serious charges could be brought against him, the organization calls for his rights to be fully respected and for any legal proceedings to be conducted fairly.
For the VSV, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential pillar of a democratic society. It therefore calls for a rapid and transparent resolution of this worrying situation.
This arrest is causing serious concern among NGOs and the opposition party ECiDé. The detention of Mr. Luc Malembe N’Kuru once again highlights the challenges faced by human rights defenders and political actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo