Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
DR Congo suspends police chief over Floribert Chebeya death

BBC News - June 6, 2010
John Numbi
General John Numbi

The head of police in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been suspended following the death of a human rights activist, officials say.

Three police officers have also been arrested and the president is determined to resolve the case, the interior minister said.

Floribert Chebeya, head of the group Voix des Sans Voix, was found dead in his car near Kinshasa on Wednesday.

He had reportedly been due to meet the police chief that evening.

Both the police and Voix des Sans Voix have said the meeting never took place.

'Precaution'

The police chief, John Numbi, is seen as a close ally of President Joseph Kabila, the BBC's Thomas Fessy reports from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

Activists say Mr Chebeya had received regular threats over the last 20 years.

On Friday, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an independent inquiry into the incident. The government has ordered its own investigation.

In a statement read out on television, Interior Minister Adolphe Lumanu said on Sunday that President Kabila was "determined that all light be shed" on Mr Chebeya's killing.

"To allow the enquiry to be conducted smoothly, the national defence council decided as a precaution to suspend inspector general John Numbi," the statement said.

DR Congo is struggling to recover from years of civil war and insecurity. The UN has about 20,000 peacekeepers there.


Related articles


  1. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  2. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  5. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  6. Jean-Pierre Bemba Returns to DR Congo (August 1, 2018)
  7. At least 30 dead after massacres in Ituri (March 2, 2018)
  8. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  9. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  10. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  11. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  12. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  13. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  14. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  15. DR Congo reach final of African Nations Championship (February 3, 2016)
  16. Peacekeepers, Congo Army to Resume Joint Fight Against Rwandan Rebels (January 28, 2016)
  17. Political tensions 'running high' in DR Congo ahead of 2016 elections (October 7, 2015)
  18. UN Report Blames Ugandan Islamists for 237 Killings in DR Congo (May 14, 2015)
  19. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  20. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  21. Denis Mukwege Wins Sakharov Prize 2014 (October 21, 2014)
  22. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  23. Senior UN officials urge Brazzaville to halt expulsion of DR Congo nationals (May 26, 2014)
  24. 15 dead in football match stampede in Kinshasa (May 12, 2014)
  25. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  26. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  27. Security Council extends UN mission, intervention force in DR Congo for one year (March 28, 2014)
  28. Death toll in Lake Albert boat accident rises to 108 people (March 24, 2014)
  29. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  30. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.