July 28, 2025 – “This must stop.” These are the grave and repeated words of Me Olivier Ndoole, public interest lawyer and Executive Secretary of the Congolese Alert for the Environment and Human Rights (ACEDH), on July 28, 2025. In a firm statement, he denounces what he calls the arbitrary arrest of a land rights defender in the province of Haut-Uélé, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to him, the 22-day detention without trial, in a cell, violates not only the Constitution but also international law.
Me Ndoole asserts that this arrest runs contrary to the laws of the Republic as well as the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which upholds the right to justice for local communities, human rights defenders, and the most vulnerable. He stresses: “Under no circumstances do the Watsa administrator, the provincial ANR, or the provincial governor have the mandate or authority to deprive a person of liberty beyond the legal limits.”
The arrest of Sadiki Shemukobya Espoir, national coordinator of the National Association of Victims of Congo (ANVC), he says, highlights a broader situation: massive human rights violations in areas rich in natural resources. “In the new provinces where mining or logging is taking place, this must end.” He refers to a troubling colonial continuity: “If in colonial times the Belgians cut off the hands of Congolese people for rubber, today they are arrested and beaten for gold or to seize community lands.”
The public lawyer’s indignation is further amplified by accusations that certain authorities and security agents have become tools of private companies. “Security forces have become corporals used by multinational corporations to the detriment of the rights of the Congolese people.” He calls on national institutions — the President of the Republic, the National Assembly, and the Senate — to act urgently to put an end to practices he describes as illegal and inhumane.
Me Ndoole also mentions the possibility of legal action: “Judicial actions must be initiated, including against the Republic itself if it fails to protect its defenders.” He reminds us that the law guarantees freedom of action, movement, assembly, and the protection of human rights defenders. Even in the case of alleged offenses, “nothing justifies extended detention beyond the 48 hours provided for by law.”
He directly addresses the Head of State: “The president had promised to humanize the services of the ANR. But it is regrettable that a citizen defending land rights against a foreign multinational is arbitrarily arrested, while known criminals are never worried.” He continues: “Why not negotiate with Congolese who are protesting peacefully? Why arrest them, mistreat them, beat them?”
Finally, Me Ndoole explicitly designates the Kibali Gold mining area as a lawless zone where fundamental rights are being trampled. He concludes with a strong call for solidarity: “We will seek national and international solidarity to denounce this situation. This kind of violence against the population must no longer be tolerated.”
The outrage expressed by lawyer Olivier Ndoole Bahemuke serves as a clear warning from the ground. It reveals serious violations of fundamental rights in a context where natural resources have become a source of repression rather than development. The story of this defender, detained for 22 days without trial, should spark action. The rule of law cannot be optional — even in the most remote areas.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama
