Democratic Republic of the Congo – Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 13 March 2017

Information on the treatment by the State of the prophet Mukungubila and especially his supporters. What state protection, if any, is available to supporters of Mukungubila? (update to Q20058 of 25 September 2015).

A Voice of America news report on events which occurred in December 2013 states:

“The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo says 103 people were killed Monday when its forces repelled attacks in and at least two other towns. Eight soldiers were among those killed in the fighting, which appears to have been led by followers of evangelical Christian pastor Joseph Mukungubila, a self-proclaimed prophet who is an outspoken opponent to the government. DRC government spokesman Lambert Mende said security forces had captured more than 150 attackers. He said these young people had been sent on ‘suicide missions’ by what he referred to as a ‘sort of guru.’ But he did not name that person.” (Voice of America (31 December 2013) DRC: 103 Died in Monday's Attacks)

A report from the International Crisis Group, in a section headed “Armed Groups and Possible Violence”, States:

“On 30 December 2013, followers of the self-proclaimed prophet Mukungubila (from the same area as Kabila and an unsuccessful candidate in the 2006 election) attacked the state TV station (RTNC), the defence ministry and the national airport, all in Kinshasa.100 A few hours later, government troops surrounded the group’s compound in a residential area and attacked after followers were said to have opened fire. Reportedly several hundred followers were killed, most in Lubumbashi.” (International Crisis Group (3 August 2016) Katanga: Tensions in DRC’s Mineral Heartland, p.20)

A country report on the DRC published by the Bertelsmann Foundation states:

“Followers of the self-proclaimed prophet and presidential candidate in 2006, Joseph Mukungubila, were hunted down by the police and presidential guards in January 2014, after attacks on strategic places in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and had been attributed to the group.” (Bertelsmann Foundation (Bertelsmann Stiftung) (January 2016) Bertelsmann Transformation Index: Congo, DR Country Report, p.8)

A report from the UN-sponsored refers to the sentencing of Joseph Mukungubila’s followers as follows:

“Judges at the Lubumbashi Garrison Military Court delivered the verdict in the case which has since February pitted the military prosecutor against 32 1

followers of Prophet Paul Mukungubila [who is in exile in South Africa]. Seventeen suspects were sentenced to 20 years in prison and were fined 50,000 dollars each for damages by claimants. Fifteen others, including six women involved in the case, were acquitted. One of their defence lawyers expressed his satisfaction, adding that they would file an appeal for their clients who were sentenced.” (Radio Okapi (17 June 2015) DRCongo military court sentences suspected coup plotters to 20 years in jail (translated from French))

A UN Human Rights Council report, in Paragraph 35, states:

“In the framework of its mandate to fight against impunity, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office followed up on serious incidents that had taken place in Lubumbashi and Kinshasa on 30 December 2013, during which at least 70 civilians were killed, mainly by FARDC soldiers. Those killings took place in the context of defence and security force operations against followers of political opponent and religious leader Joseph Mukungubila, who was believed to be behind the attacks against strategic Government installations in Lubumbashi, Kinshasa and Kindu. In addition, over 60 civilians and alleged coup plotters were arrested by the security forces between 30 December 2013 and 2 January 2014.” (UN Human Rights Council (27 July 2015) Situation of human rights and the activities of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The 2014 US Department of State report on religious freedom in the DRC states:

“According to the UN, on December 30, 2013, members of the 6th Military Region, agents of the Military Police, and Republican Guard soldiers killed at least 46 followers of Prophet Joseph Mukungubila, an evangelical Christian pastor and former presidential candidate, in Katanga province. The government said Mukungubila's followers had attacked government facilities in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi earlier that day and taken control of a state- owned television station, broadcasting a political message to the public. There were conflicting reports as to the number of deaths. The BBC reported Mukungubila told them his followers carried out the attacks in response to government harassment. According to the minister of communications, the government was responding to politically motivated security threats. On May 15, Mukungubila was detained in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he had requested asylum, under the authority of an Interpol warrant issued at the request of the Congolese government in connection with the December 2013 attacks. Mukungubila was granted bail in South Africa and was awaiting extradition proceedings at year's end.” (US Department of State (14 October 2015) 2014 Report on International Religious Freedom - Democratic Republic of the Congo)

A report from the Chinese state news agency Xinhua states:

“The authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have shut down the church of prophet Joseph Mukungubila, who was linked to the deadly attacks this week in the capital Kinshasa and several other towns in the Central African country. A statement released Friday from the provincial government said calm had been restored in Katanga province following the Dec. 30 incidents in Lubumbashi, and towns. Supporters of

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Mukungubila launched attacks and briefly seized state television in Kinshasa. He has been strongly opposed to the election results since losing the 2006 presidential polls. His church has been shut down in Katanga province by DR Congo's authorities until further notice, the statement said.” (Xinhua (4 January 2014) DR Congo authorities shut down prophet Mukungubila's church after attacks)

A report from the South African news website News 24 refers to the arrest of Joseph Mukungubila as follows:

“Police on Thursday detained for a few hours a self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ who is wanted by Kinshasa over his role in violence that claimed more than 100 lives in the DRC's two main cities. Joseph Mukungubila Mutombo, who describes himself as God's ‘last envoy to humanity after Jesus Christ and Paul of Tarsus’, was arrested at dawn at his house in Johannesburg. ‘We managed to get him out on bail,’ his South African lawyer Ashraf Essop told AFP, after an appearance before a Johannesburg court.” (News 24 (16 May 2014) DRC 'prophet' accused of killings arrested in Johannesburg)

Recent information on Joseph Mukungubila and his former supporters was not found among sources available to the Research, Learning & Development Unit.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research and Information Unit within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to.

References:

Bertelsmann Foundation (Bertelsmann Stiftung) (January 2016) Bertelsmann Transformation Index: Congo, DR Country Report http://www.bti- project.org/fileadmin/files/BTI/Downloads/Reports/2016/pdf/BTI_2016_Congo __DR.pdf (Accessed 13 March 2017)

International Crisis Group (3 August 2016) Katanga: Tensions in DRC’s Mineral Heartland https://www.crisisgroup.org/file/952/download?token=XvUkf1HW (Accessed 13 March 2017)

News 24 (16 May 2014) DRC 'prophet' accused of killings arrested in Johannesburg http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/DRC-prophet-accused-of-killings- arrested-in-Johannesburg-20140515 (Accessed 13 March 2017)

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Radio Okapi (17 June 2015) DRCongo military court sentences suspected coup plotters to 20 years in jail (translated from French) http://www.lexisnexis.com (Accessed 13 March 2017) This is a subscription database

UN Human Rights Council (27 July 2015) Situation of human rights and the activities of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1441200056_a-hrc-30-32-eng.doc (Accessed 13 March 2017)

US Department of State (14 October 2015) 2014 Report on International Religious Freedom - Democratic Republic of the Congo http://www.refworld.org/docid/562105b26.html (Accessed 13 March 2017)

Voice of America (31 December 2013) DRC: 103 Died in Monday's Attacks http://www.voanews.com/a/drc-government-says-one-hundred-three-died-in- monday-attacks/1820883.html (Accessed 13 March 2017)

Xinhua (4 January 2014) DR Congo authorities shut down prophet Mukungubila's church after attacks http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2014-01/04/c_133018392.htm (Accessed 13 March 2017)

Sources Consulted:

All Africa Bertelsmann Foundation Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Google International Crisis Group Lexis Nexis Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database UNHCR Refworld US Department of State

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