Somali National News Agency
So
Ar
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
    Local NewsShow More
    Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing
    June 6, 2025
    Over 40 al-Shabaab Leaders and Militants Neutralized in Targeted Operation in Hiiraan Region
    June 6, 2025
    World Environment Day 2025 Commemorated in Mogadishu
    June 5, 2025
    President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Extends Historic Invitation for National Consultation
    June 5, 2025
    Mogadishu Hosts Second Day of Crucial Climate Change Conference
    June 5, 2025
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Machine Gun, AK-47 Rifles Recovered as 4 Al-Shabaab Terrorists are Killed in Garissa
    June 3, 2025
    Israel kills 2 Gaza aid seekers as UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’
    May 31, 2025
    A miraculous story of a Hujjaj from Libya
    May 27, 2025
    UNA Participates in International Conference on Islamophobia in Azerbaijan
    May 27, 2025
    At least 11 hurt in South Carolina beach town shooting
    May 26, 2025
  • Articles
    ArticlesShow More
    Wind power turbines line a mountain range in Ji’an, Jiangxi province, July 9, 2022.
    What China’s climate action means for the planet’s future?
    June 5, 2025
    A miraculous story of a Hujjaj from Libya
    May 27, 2025
    Nation First, Politics Later: PM Hamza Appeals to Youth Amid Growing Political Tensions
    May 24, 2025
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to be present at the signing ceremony in Hong Kong on May 30.
    China Leads Historic Effort to Establish International Mediation Body
    May 24, 2025
    From Yunnan to Somalia: A Path Out of Poverty
    May 13, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Somalia Unveils the Blueprint for a Modern and Sustainable Mogadishu
    December 21, 2024
    Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change
    November 25, 2024
    FM meets Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
    October 28, 2024
    President Hassan Sheikh Inaugurates New LPG Storage Center in Mogadishu
    May 12, 2024
    Collaboration of ICT transformation for digital Infrastructure
    October 24, 2023
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Mogadishu Stadium to Host Star-Studded Match Featuring Somali Legends and International Football Icons
    May 27, 2025
    Arsenal held at Brighton while Man City bounce-back continues
    January 5, 2025
    Galmudug wins the Inter-State Football Tournament
    January 29, 2024
    Somalia set for two int’l friendlies ahead of WC qualifier clashes against Algeria and Uganda
    October 10, 2023
    Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver
    October 3, 2023
  • Tenders
    TendersShow More
    Quay Renovation Works – Supply and Installation of Fenders and Bollards
    April 11, 2025
Reading: Dozens sentenced to death over murders of U.N. experts in Congo
Share
Font ResizerAa
Somali National News AgencySomali National News Agency
  • SOMALI
  • ARABIC
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
Follow US
©2023 || All rights reserved SONNA
Somali National News Agency > Blog > World News > Dozens sentenced to death over murders of U.N. experts in Congo
World News

Dozens sentenced to death over murders of U.N. experts in Congo

By Osman
Last updated: January 30, 2022
4 Min Read
Share

DAKAR:-About 50 people were sentenced to death, many in absentia, in Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday in connection with the murders of U.N. experts Zaida Catalan and Michael Sharp in 2017, a defence lawyer in the case said.

A local immigration official was among those given death sentences while an army colonel was given 10 years in prison, said Tresor Kabangu, who represented several defendants in the trial. Congo has observed a moratorium on the death penalty since 2003 so those convicted will serve life sentences.

Human rights groups say investigators have ignored the potential involvement of higher-level officials, and Catalan and Sharp’s families said they did not believe the ultimate masterminds had been brought to justice.

Catalan, a Swede, and Sharp, an American, were investigating violence between government forces and a militia in the central Kasai region in March 2017 when they were stopped along the road by armed men, marched into a field and executed.

Congolese officials have blamed the killings on the Kamuina Nsapu militia. They initially denied any state agents were involved but later arrested the colonel and several other officials who they said were working with the rebels.

After a nearly five-year trial marked by repeated delays and the deaths of several defendants in custody, a military court in the city of Kananga delivered its verdict on Saturday.

Among those sentenced to death was Thomas Nkashama, a local immigration official who met with Catalan and Sharp the day before their fatal mission, Kabangu told Reuters. Others were alleged members of the militia.

Colonel Jean de Dieu Mambweni, who also met with Catalan and Sharp before their mission, was sentenced to 10 years, Kabangu said.

A number of the defendants were convicted in absentia because they were either never apprehended or escaped from custody.

Catalan’s sister, Elisabeth Morseby, said after the verdict that testimony in the case was of dubious reliability given how much time the defendants had spent together in prison and said the conviction of Mambweni was a smokescreen.

“In order for the truth to emerge, all suspects, including those higher up in the hierarchy, need to be questioned, which has not yet been done,” she told Reuters.

Sharp’s mother, Michele, said she was glad some perpetrators were being held accountable, but wondered who gave the orders.

“Surely someone in the upper echelons of power,” she said. “We await further developments.”

Congo’s chief military prosecutor was not immediately available for comment. Prosecutors have previously said that they followed the available evidence.

Sweden’s foreign minister, Ann Linde, urged Congolese authorities to cooperate with a U.N. mechanism involved in the investigation to shine further light on the matter.

“Crucial that investigation concerning others involved continues to further uncover truth and bring justice,” she said on Twitter.

Source: Reuters

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

MORE NEWS

Official Reopening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives

CultureEducationLocal News
November 23, 2024

Kenya’s small farmers find respite in avocados amid changing climate

NAIROBI(SONNA) As crop diseases and pests rise in Kenya amid a rapidly changing climate that…

March 11, 2023

Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing

Federal Government of Somalia’s Weekly Briefing Mogadishu, Friday, 6th June, 2025 1- President Hassan Sheikh…

June 6, 2025

Nimcaan Hilaac appointed to lead Waberi National Band

Mogadishu (SONNA)-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed…

March 3, 2020

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Kenya: One dead, several hospitalised in suspected food poisoning at Royal Media

One member of staff has been confirmed dead, with several others hospitalised in a suspected food poisoning at the Royal…

World News
December 28, 2022

Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM conduct airstrike against al-Shabaab terrorist

Mogadishu(SONNA)- In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist in…

Local NewsNewsWorld News
February 5, 2020

World Bank officials visit Djibouti to discuss country’s development prospects

Djibouti(SONNA)- A delegation of World Bank Group Executive Directors (EDs) has concluded its visit to Djibouti after gaining a comprehensive…

NewsWorld News
January 18, 2020

Israeli settler kills Palestinian after alleged stabbing attack

SONNA - A Palestinian man has been killed by an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank, according to the…

World News
May 27, 2023

Somali National News Agency established in 1964. It is one of the main pillars of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
  • SNTV
  • RADIO MOGADISHU
  • DALKA JOURNAL
  • TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Follow US: 

  • MoICT
  • VILLA SOMALIA
  • OPM SOMALIA

All rights reserved SONNA

©2023

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?