The VSV denies that the visitation rights of Seth Kikuni's family are not respected - Congolese Independent

2024-09-08 14:21:00

The Voice of the Voiceless for Human Rights (VSV) is concerned that on Monday September 2, 2024, Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi, President of the opposition political party, was arrested by two men who claim to be from the National Intelligence Agency (ANR). “Piste pour l’Emergence”, entrepreneur and former candidate for the president of the republic in the elections of December 2018 and 2023.

In fact, two ANR agents with a mission order came at about 3 pm to the office of Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi, located on Lukusa Avenue in Kinshasa/Gombe to ask him to follow them for an interview with the Minister’s General Administrator. service. It is alleged that these agents took him on board their Jeep Land Cruiser uniformly in the company of his two colleagues, Messrs. Roger Lubambula and Gabriel Musafiri. The three were taken to the ANR office located in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Gombe commune where they were allegedly denied any visiting rights. It is not yet known why the political opponent was arrested.

On the scene at the ANR, it is alleged that two of Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi’s collaborators were ill-treated and beaten. Meanwhile, Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi was separated from his assistants and taken elsewhere. Messrs. Roger Lubambula and Gabriel Musafiri were briefly questioned before they were kept in the cell where they spent the night until they were at peace on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 in the evening.

The VSV denies the violation of certain rights of the political opponent, in particular the right to visits from family members, lawyers, etc.

Despite several attempts by the ANR to see Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi and reassure him that he is fine, his wife, family and lawyers were informed that he was not there. Therefore, his wife, the mother of the two children, is very worried about her husband’s life because the latter is sick and lives on a special diet after surgery. Likewise, she hesitates to send the children to school for safety reasons.

The VSV calls on the Congolese authorities to ensure that the rights of Mr. Seth Kikuni Masudi are respected regardless of the reasons for his arrest. Indeed, the rights to visit family members and access to health care must be guaranteed.

In this light, the VSV invites the Congolese authorities to:

Allow political opponent Seth Kikuni Masudi’s wife, family members and lawyers to visit unhindered;
Continue the unconditional release of the President of the political party “Piste pour l’Emergence” or end his incommunicado detention by bringing him before a competent court;
Guarantee the right to visit and access to health care, rights guaranteed by the Congolese Constitution and international human rights legal instruments.

Done at Kinshasa, September 6, 2024.

HUMAN RIGHTS VOICE (VSV)