The Department of State is designating four nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under the Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program (GCJRP). Evariste Ilunga Lumu, Mérovée Mutombo, Gérard Kabongo, and Jean Kutenelu Badibanga are all wanted by the DRC High Military Court for, among other charges, the war crime of murder for their role in the 2017 killings of U.S. citizen and United Nations expert Michael Sharp, his UN colleague, and three DRC nationals who were assisting the experts in their work. Sharp, a U.S. citizen with a long history of humanitarian work, and Zaida Maria Catalán, a dual Swedish/Chilean national, were killed while investigating the conflict in the Kasai region between the Armed Forces of the DRC and an armed militia group, as well as allegations of UN sanctions evasion. This is the first reward proposal under the GCJRP for a war crimes trial taking place in a domestic court.
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 DRC depends on justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations-both past and present. 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. 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.
