7 years after the double murder of United Nations experts in Kasai Central, the Congolese Society for the Rule of Law (SCED) expressed its disappointment with the non-start of the trial of the Congolese accompanying experts, also killed during this tragic incident.
In a recently published press release, the SCED underlined the abandonment of the families of the Congolese victims, while the judgment concerning the experts has already been rendered. Dominique Kambala, general director of the organization, regretted that the trial of the 4 Congolese compatriots has still not started and that the families remain left to their own devices.
In addition, the SCED pointed out the delay in the construction of the experts’ memorial, as well as the difficulties encountered in budget allocation for truth-seeking mechanisms.
United Nations experts Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan were tragically killed by Kamuina Nsapu militiamen during an investigative mission into human rights violations in the Kasai region. After a long trial, the Military Court of the former Kasai Occidental province rendered a verdict in January 2021 condemning several defendants to the death penalty for war crimes.
However, the SCED deplores the fact that the appeal trial, which could have provided more answers, continues to stall before the High Military Court.
This tragedy once again highlights the importance of prosecuting those responsible for heinous crimes, while providing justice and reparation to the families of the victims. The memory of United Nations experts must be honored through concrete actions and a constant search for the truth.