Congo Remembers Leading Human-Rights Activist

On June 26, 1,000 people came out to mourn the loss of slain Congolese human-rights activist Floribert Chebeya, who was found dead in his car in the capital city of Kinshasa, with his hands bound behind his back. Several ambassadors and U.N. representatives attended the service, in which Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya said Chebeya will "go down in history for his commitment to justice, peace, and human dignity." Chebeya led Voice of the Voiceless, a human-rights organization, and often his work put him at odds with major Congolese leaders—including former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and his successor former President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, father of the DRC's current president, Joseph Kabila. Throughout Chebeya's career, he repeatedly faced intimidation and death threats. Over 50 international organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called for investigations into his death.