Norway concerned about killing of Congolese human rights defender

“We were very concerned to learn that the Congolese human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire has been killed,” said State Secretary Gry Larsen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Chebeya was found dead on Wednesday, the day after he had been summoned to the police headquarters in Kinshasa.

Mr Chebeya, head of the organisation Voice of the Voiceless through many years, worked tirelessly to defend human rights and promote democratic development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also chaired RENADHOC, the national network of human rights organisations in DR Congo.

The situation for human rights defenders and journalists has deteriorated in recent years, and there have been several killings.

“We call on the Congolese authorities to ensure that a thorough investigation of the killing is carried out. We also urge them to intensify their work to promote respect for human rights and to protect human rights defenders and journalists,” said Ms. Larsen.