The East African
Wednesday January 13 2021
DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi. He says the pardon was meant to show forgiveness, justice and “national reconciliation.” PHOTO | FILE | NMG
Summary
President Felix Tshisekedi’s office said the pardon was meant to show forgiveness, justice and “national reconciliation.”
But it was also political, as the 28, the initial group included 11 others who died in custody, walked out of the gates of Makala Prison in Kinshasa were also regaining freedom they claim had been unjustly taken from them.
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At midmorning January 8, 2021 Bernard Takaishe Ngumbi, the Vice-Minister for Justice in the DR Congo, oversaw the release of 28 inmates incarcerated since 2005 for the assassination of former president Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
Killers of DR Congo’s Laurent-Desire Kabila released from jail
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Twenty-two men convicted over the 2001 assassination of Democratic Republic of Congo president Laurent-Desire Kabila were released from prison Friday after being pardoned by current leader Felix Tshisekedi.
The men were met outside Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa by family and friends, some in tears.
Among those released was the slain president’s former aide de camp Colonel Eddy Kapend, who has always denied any part in the plot to murder Kabila, father of Tshisekedi’s predecessor and political rival Joseph Kabila.
After leaving prison by a jeep under military escort, 61-year-old Kapend later emerged from his home in the western town of Macampagne, looking relaxed and wearing a military kepi.
Killers of ex-DR Congo president Kabila released from prison
Published 8 January 2021
Twenty-two men convicted over the 2001 assassination of Democratic Republic of Congo president Laurent-Desire Kabila were released from prison on Friday after receiving pardons from current leader Felix Tshisekedi.
The men were met outside Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa by family and friends, some in tears.
Among those released was the slain president’s former aide de camp Colonel Eddy Kapend, who has always denied any part in the plot to murder Kabila, father of Tshisekedi’s predecessor and political rival Joseph Kabila.
Kapend left the prison by a jeep under escort.
Killers of former DR Congo president released from jail
By AFP
JAN 8, 2021
Col. Eddy Kapend, an aide to assassinated president Laurent Kabila, after his release on Friday. By Arsene Mpiana (AFP)
Twenty-two men convicted over the 2001 assassination of Democratic Republic of Congo president Laurent-Desire Kabila were released from prison Friday after receiving pardons from current leader Felix Tshisekedi.
The men were met outside Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa by family and friends, some in tears.
Among those released was the slain president s former aide de camp Colonel Eddy Kapend, who has always denied any part in the plot to murder Kabila, father of Tshisekedi s predecessor and political rival Joseph Kabila.
BBC News
Published
image captionCol Eddy Kapend was a senior officer to assassinated President Laurent Kabila
Twenty-three soldiers accused of being behind the assassination of former president of Democratic Republic of Congo have been released after spending nearly two decades behind bars.
Laurent Kabila was shot dead by a bodyguard in 2001. A military trial that followed jailed dozens of soldiers, including Col Eddy Kapend, his personal aide.
Rights groups criticised the trial.
Some in DR Congo believe the soldiers were used as scapegoats.
There has been much speculation about who gave the orders for Kabila s assassination, including suggestions that foreign powers were involved, as it came at a time when several neighbouring countries were involved in the conflict in DR Congo.