An opposition deputy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chérubin Okende, was found dead on Thursday July 13 in Kinshasa, his body riddled with bullets, according to various concordant sources.
This former minister, 61, would have gone the day before to the Constitutional Court and, since then, his relatives had no further news, until he was found dead.
His assassination aroused many emotions and condemnations in the country.
Starting with the Head of State, Felix Tshisekedi who asked that all the light be shed on this file “in order to punish the culprits of this despicable act”.
The government condemned a “heinous act” and “instructed all security services to diligently carry out a thorough investigation in order to shed light on this unacceptable act”, according to a message from the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson. , Patrick Muyaya, published on Twitter.
As a reminder, Okende, Spokesperson of the party “Together for the Republic” had resigned from his post as Minister of Transport, in December 2022, in order to support the candidacy of the leader of his political formation, Moïse Katumbi, for the presidential election of next December.
In a press release, the President of the National Assembly called for the opening of “full and inclusive investigations in all directions to identify, punish in all the rigor of the law the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.
Within the opposition, strong reactions were also recorded. Martin Fayulu said he was “shocked” by “this heinous crime, which is akin to a political assassination” and which “cannot go unpunished”.
This incident occurred about five months before the presidential election.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1248 of 13/07/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
