News: The fight for justice continues in the Chérubin Okende case
The case of Chérubin Okende, a political opponent found dead in Kinshasa on July 13, continues to arouse indignation and mobilization. Maître Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian lawyer representing Okende’s family, filed a criminal complaint against the head of Congolese military intelligence, who happens to be of Belgian nationality.
In this case, an internal memo from the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) points to the alleged role of military intelligence in the kidnapping, mistreatment, torture and death of Chérubin Okende. Major General Christian Ndaywel, head of military intelligence, is the subject of this complaint.
What makes this case particularly complex is that General Ndaywel also has Belgian nationality. According to Maître Deswaef, this dual nationality poses a serious legal problem, because it gives competence to Belgian courts to investigate and judge crimes under international law committed by a Belgian national, in the context of the war raging in the DRC.
The Congolese authorities, for their part, did not wish to react following this complaint. However, Okende’s family hopes that this legal initiative will help establish the truth about the circumstances of his death and bring justice to their deceased loved one.
This case highlights the complex issues related to justice in contexts of conflict and human rights violations. It also raises questions about the role of foreign countries in the pursuit of international justice.
The fight of Master Deswaef and Okende’s family illustrates the desire not to let crimes go unpunished and to highlight the responsibilities of the actors involved. In a world where justice is sometimes difficult to achieve, such initiatives are essential to advancing human rights and democratic principles.
The hope is that this criminal complaint will shed light on this crime and lead to real justice for Chérubin Okende and his family. Mobilization and perseverance are the weapons of those who fight for truth and justice, and this example is a strong testimony to that.