DR Congo arrests suspects in murder of 2 UN experts in Kasai

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the death of two U.N. investigators in central Congo last month.

One of the suspects managed to escape from custody, the military’s top prosecutor further disclosed on Friday.
Speaking in the capital Kinshasa, General Joseph Ponde told reporters that four police officers responsible for guarding the suspects had also been arrested following the escape.

Reuters reports that the General referred to the suspect in custody, Daniel Mbayi Kabasele, as an “insurgent”.

The two (an American and Swedish) were kidnapped by unidentified assailants on March 12 along with four Congolese accompanying them.

Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan were kidnapped in March in Kasai, their remains and that of their interpreter were discovered in a shallow grave later. They were looking into recent large-scale violence and alleged human rights violations in the region.

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had cause to condemn the murders. The UN vowed to conduct an inquiry with Guterres saying the world body would do “everything possible” to bring justice in the case.

Since July 2016, large-scale violence has intensified in Central Kasai province and later spread to neighboring provinces. The uprising erupted after government forces in August killed a tribal chief and militia leader.