The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed on Wednesday, February 28, the indictment of Roger Lumbala, former rebel leader, "for complicity in crimes against humanity," online media outlets announce.

Arrested on January 2, 2021, in France as part of a preliminary investigation opened in December 2016 by the Crimes Against Humanity unit of the Paris prosecutor's office, the former Minister of Commerce is accused of crimes including murder, acts of torture, rape, looting, and enslavement, including sexual slavery, committed in the DRC between 2002 and 2003, the same sources recall.

The former leader of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (RCD-N) and his allies, they add, are said to have committed these atrocities during the military operation "Effacer le tableau" carried out in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces to take control of areas rich in natural resources.

In this context, Roger Lumbala is accused of having given orders to torture and having helped or assisted the RCD-N troops, notably by providing necessary supplies.

For the organization TRIAL International, "This decision is a step further towards justice for the survivors of mass atrocities in the DRC."

Boni Tsala