The military prosecutor’s office on Monday, April 3 sent to court the files of two soldiers suspected of being the perpetrators of the shootings in Lubumbashi which killed the young people affiliated with Unafec, a party allied to the majority. The families say they are angry because they feel that the government “ consider as objects “. The authorities revised the death toll downwards on Sunday, from 12 to 8 dead, when Unafec speaks of 21 dead. Again on Monday, the family members of 16 victims presented themselves to the military prosecutor’s office, accompanied by their lawyers.
With our correspondent in Lubumbashi, Denise Mahého
Sad face and trembling voice, Sébastien Muyaka is still looking for his 16-year-old son, who has since disappeared. the altercation between the soldiers and the militants of Unafec.
This Monday, he was at the military prosecutor’s office. ” My son is a schoolboy. He was expelled from school for not paying school fees, he went to play at the football field and that’s when he was caught. We haven’t found his body yet. “, he tells us.
The nephew of Ms. Ngoy Ilunga, 19, also died during this tragedy. Also a schoolboy, her body has still not recovered, she is angry: ” Until then, there is no government action, we have lost children! There, we are made to walk, and moreover, we are not received. We have the impression that we are considered as objects and not as humans. »
Maître Pèlerin Kaumba, lawyer for the collective of victims, assures him that the file is moving forward before the military justice. ” Saturday, we had come with the members of three families, they were identified by the listener. On Monday, we were there with other people so that we could audition them. We have seen the magistrate investigating the case. He told us that the file has already been sent to the military court. »
For the time being, the families of the victims await the opening of the trial in the coming days. The alleged perpetrators face the death penalty.