Arbitrary detention of Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba
On 28 September 2020, a magistrate of the Court of Lubumbashi informed woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba that her case has been closed and that the charges against her have been dropped.
On 16 June 2020, woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was released on bail from Kasapa central prison in Lubumbashi, where she had been detained in poor conditions since 8 June, following her arrest on 6 June.
On 6 June 2020, woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was arbitrarily arrested in Lubumbashi, in Haut-Katanga province whilst peacefully protesting. She is currently detained in Kasapa central prison in Lubumbashi.
Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba is a human rights defender and a member of the organisation Nouvelle Dynamique Syndicale (New Trade Union Dynamics - NDS). NDS is a trade union organization promoting workers' rights in the DRC.
On 28 September 2020, a magistrate of the Court of Lubumbashi informed woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba that her case has been closed and that the charges against her have been dropped. The defender had been facing charges of “contempt of court” after being picked up at a peaceful protest in June 2020.
Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was arbitrarily arrested by police on 6 June 2020 while participating in a peaceful demonstration in Lubumbashi, organised by the trade union Nouvelle Dynamique Syndicale (New Trade Union Dynamics – NDS) of which she is a member. The demonstration was staged in protest against a decision by Attorney General Basil Lumande which ruled in favour of a former NDS member who had been falsely collecting membership fees for the trade union group from companies where some NDS members worked, despite no longer being affiliated with the NDS.
On 8 June 2020, Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was transferred to Kasapa central prison and where she was kept in poor detention conditions, sharing her cell with 77 other women. The woman human rights defender was released on bail on 16 June and placed under judicial supervision.
On 16 June 2020, woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was released on bail from Kasapa central prison in Lubumbashi, where she had been detained in poor conditions since 8 June, following her arrest on 6 June. She was charged with ‘’contempt of court’’ and has been placed under judicial supervision. She must report to the police station every Tuesday and Friday.
Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba is a woman human rights defender and a member of the organisation Nouvelle Dynamique Syndicale (New Trade Union Dynamics - NDS). NDS is a trade union organization promoting workers' rights in the DRC.
On 6 June 2020, Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was arbitrarily arrested by police whilst participating in a peaceful demonstration in Lubumbashi, organised by NDS. The demonstration was organised in protest against a recent decision by the Attorney General Basil Lumande in favour of a former NDS member who had been falsely collecting membership fees for the group from companies where some NDS members worked, despite no longer being affiliated with the group.
On 8 June 2020, the woman human rights defender was transferred to Kasapa central prison from a cell in the Court of Lubumbashi, where she had been held since being arrested. Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was subjected to poor detention conditions, sharing her cell with 77 other women..
Whilst Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba, it remains concerned by the imposition of judicial supervision, which is believed to be solely motivated by her legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to lift the judicial supervision of Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba and guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
On 6 June 2020, woman human rights defender Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was arbitrarily arrested in Lubumbashi, in Haut-Katanga province whilst peacefully protesting. She is currently detained in Kasapa central prison in Lubumbashi.
Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba is a human rights defender and a member of the organisation Nouvelle Dynamique Syndicale (New Trade Union Dynamics - NDS). NDS is a trade union organization promoting workers' rights in the DRC.
On 6 June 2020, Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba was arrested by police whilst participating in a peaceful demonstration in Lubumbashi, organised by NDS. The demonstration was organised in protest against a recent decision by the Attorney General Basil Lumande, in favour of a former NDS member who had been falsely collecting membership fees for the group, from companies where some NDS members worked, despite no longer being affiliated with the group. Once the march reached the Court of Lubumbashi, Anne-Marie Elumba was arrested by judicial police officers on the grounds that the message on the sign she was holding undermined the honour of the Attorney General, which would constitute a contempt of authority offence.
On 8 June 2020, the defender was transferred to Kasapa central prison, after being held in a cell in the Court of Lubumbashi since her arrest. The defender has not yet appeared before a judge, nor has she been informed of the charges against her.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned by the arbitrary detention of Anne-Marie Mabo Elumba as it believes it is in reprisal for exercising freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
