Source: Front Line Defenders

About

Fréderic-Marcus Kambale was a human rights defender and member of the organisation 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.

Killing & Investigation

On 21 May 2020, human rights defender Fréderic-Marcus Kambale was shot and killed by a police officer during a peaceful protest organised in Beni, in North-Kivu. The peaceful march was organised to denounce the rising insecurity and resurgence of violence in the city.

On 21 May, 2020, LUCHA organised a peaceful march in Beni to denounce the rise in urban crime and insecurity, and call on the authorities to ensure the safety of the population. The march started at Butsili stadium, near to where a young man was killed on the evening of 19 May by unknown assailants. As the demonstrators approached the Beni town hall, police arrived to disperse them, using tear gas bombs and live ammunition.

Human rights defender Fréderic-Marcus Kambale was shot in the head by a police officer and died as a result of his injuries. Two police officers suspected of being responsible for his death have been arrested.

Police arrested 19 LUCHA activists who had been participating in the protest, detaining them for several hours before releasing them later that day. One protester was injured during the police efforts to disperse the protesters and was taken to hospital.

The Context

This is the second time in six months that a LUCHA activist has been killed in similar circumstances. On 23 November 2019, LUCHA member Obadi Muhindo was killed in Beni during a peaceful demonstration, when members of the police force opened fire on the protesters with live ammunition.