Wanted; Dead or Alive!
The U.S Department of State is designating four nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program.
Evariste Ilunga Lumu, Mérovée Mutombo, Gérard Kabongo, and Jean Kutenelu Badibanga are all wanted by the DR Congo High Military Court for, among other charges, the war crime of murder.
They were reportedly involved in the 2017 killings of an American citizen Michael Sharp, a United Nations expert and his UN colleague.
The four renegades reportedly also murdered three DR Congo nationals who were assisting the experts in their work.
Michael Sharp, the United States national with a long history of humanitarian work and Zaida Maria Catalán, who was a dual Swedish and Chilean, were killed while investigating the conflict in the Kasai region between the Armed Forces of the DR Congo and an armed militia group, as well as allegations of United Nations sanctions evasion.
This is the first reward proposal under the Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program (GCJRP) for a war crimes trial taking place in a domestic court.
The U.S Department of State says it is critical that the present whereabouts of Lumu, Mutombo, Kabongo, and Badibanga be determined and that they appear before the DRC High Military Court to face the charges against them.
“Lasting peace in the DR Congo depends on justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations—both past and present,” says the official statement from Antony Blinken, the U.S Secretary of State
“All those involved in violence should know that the United States remains committed to justice and accountability for atrocities, including against local civilians and international humanitarian workers,” he said.
“The United States has long supported various aspects of the justice sector in the DRC and has urged the investigation and prosecution of this case in particular. We welcome the High Military Court’s decision to proceed, which sends a strong message that impunity for atrocity crimes in the DRC will not be tolerated.”
Through the GCJRP, the Department of State offers rewards of up to USD 5 million for information that leads to the arrest, transfer, or conviction of certain foreign individuals who are wanted for war crimes, genocide, or crimes against humanity.
The Program is one of the Department’s foremost tools in fighting impunity for atrocity crimes worldwide and supporting justice institutions, having contributed to more than 20 cases and paid out more than USD 8 million over its lifetime.
Those with information on the whereabouts of these four alleged perpetrators should contact the Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program by WhatsApp or text message via +1-202-975-5468 or by email at gcjrp@state.gov.
The identity of anyone providing information will be kept strictly confidential absent that person’s express permission. The Program can also consider recommendations from the DR Congo High Military Court based on information provided directly to the Court.