Human rights defender Lucien Byamungu Munganga arrested and charged
On 22 July 2020, human rights defender Lucien Byamungu Munganga was arbitrarily arrested in Kalehe, in South-Kivu province whilst peacefully protesting. He is charged with "damaging claims", "contempt of authority", "extortion of signature" and "usurpation of public office". He remains in detention at Kalehe central prison in very poor conditions.
Lucien Byamungu Munganga is a human rights defender affiliated with the organization Lutte pour le Changement (Fight for Change – LUCHA). LUCHA is a non-violent and non-partisan youth civil society movement founded in June 2012 in Goma, North Kivu. The movement advocates for social justice and accountability in DRC through campaigns, and encourages Congolese citizens to fight for the promotion and respect of human rights.
On 17 September 2020, the High Court of Kavumu dropped all charges against human rights defender Lucien Byamungu Munganga. The defender was released on the same day from a cell in the High Court of Kavumu. The defender was arrested and detained on 22 July 2020 and charged with "damaging claims", "contempt of authority", "extortion of signature" and "usurpation of public office".
Lucien Byamungu Munganga is a human rights defender affiliated with the organization Lutte pour le Changement (Fight for Change – LUCHA). LUCHA is a non-violent and non-partisan youth civil society movement founded in June 2012 in Goma, North Kivu. The movement advocates for social justice and accountability in DRC through campaigns, and encourages Congolese citizens to fight for the promotion and respect of human rights.
On 22 July 2020, Lucien Byamungu Munganga was arbitrarily arrested by order of the Mwami Shosho Ntale Franck Kamirogosa IV, a customary authority in the territory of Kalehe while participating in a peaceful demonstration in Kalehe, organised by LUCHA. The aim of demonstration was to call for the release of four members of LUCHA arrested on 21 July 2020 during a peaceful protest denouncing the theft of public street lamps allocated to the village of Buchiro to combat insecurity. The human rights defender was detained at Kalehe Central Prison on the same day. On 15 September 2020, he was transfered to a cell at the High Court of Kavumu, after his case file was transfered there from the Kalehe Court.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the discharge and release of Lucien Byamungu Munganga, as it believes he had been targeted for his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo to 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 22 July 2020, human rights defender Lucien Byamungu Munganga was arbitrarily arrested in Kalehe, in South-Kivu province whilst peacefully protesting. He is charged with "damaging claims", "contempt of authority", "extortion of signature" and "usurpation of public office". He remains in detention at Kalehe central prison in very poor conditions.
Lucien Byamungu Munganga is a human rights defender affiliated with the organization Lutte pour le Changement (Fight for Change – LUCHA). LUCHA is a non-violent and non-partisan youth civil society movement founded in June 2012 in Goma, North Kivu. The movement advocates for social justice and accountability in DRC through campaigns, and encourages Congolese citizens to fight for the promotion and respect of human rights.
On 22 July 2020, Lucien Byamungu Munganga participated in a peaceful demonstration organised by LUCHA, in Kalehe. The aim of demonstration was to call for the release of four members of LUCHA arrested on 21 July 2020 during a peaceful protest denouncing the theft of public street lamps allocated to the village of Buchiro to combat insecurity. The four human rights defenders were held in detention at Minova police station for four days. During the protest on 22 July, Lucien Byamungu Munganga was arrested by order of the Mwami Shosho Ntale Franck Kamirogosa IV, a customary authority in the territory of Kalehe, and detained at Kalehe central prison.
While the four LUCHA members arrested on 21 July were released free of charges on 25 July, Lucien Byamungu Munganga remains in detention and is charged with "damaging claims", "contempt of authority", "extortion of signature" and "usurpation of public office". His hearing is scheduled for 14 August 2020.
LUCHA members believe that this arbitrary detention is in reprisal for the organization’s legitimate and peaceful human rights activities. In recent years, members of the group have been targeted for their work in defence of human rights, and subjected to arbitrary arrests, detentions and beatings when campaigning for the respect of democracy and human rights.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned by the arbitrary detention of Lucien Byamungu Munganga and the charges brought against him as it strongly believes that this is directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.
