In March 2017, two United Nations experts and three Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) citizens assisting them were ambushed, marched to a field and murdered by local militia in the village of Moyo Musuila.
One of the UN experts was an American citizen, Michael J. Sharp, and his colleague Zaida Maria Catalán was a dual Swedish-Chilean national. The group was investigating corruption and atrocities, said Beth Van Schaack, U.S. Department of State Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice:
“They were killed in 2017 while investigating conflict in the Kasai region between the armed forces of the DRC and various armed militia groups active in that particular area.”
“Humanitarian workers in particular deserve our special protection because they have taken on extremely difficult tasks,” said Ambassador Van Schaack.
“We are seeing that humanitarian workers are under threat worldwide. We're seeing that at a number of different conflict locations around the world and the brutal murder of Michael Sharp and his colleagues is another example of that. So, it's extremely important to promote justice and accountability in order to help protect humanitarian workers. We owe them our best efforts to keep them safe and to reduce the immense risks that they face.”
Four DRC nationals are wanted by the DRC High Military Court for their participation in this murder: Evariste Ilunga Lumu, Mérovée Mutombo, Gérard Kabongo, and Jean Kutenelo Badibanga.
The U.S. Department of State Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on that leads to their capture or conviction.
“If you do have relevant information, it's really critical that you come forward,” said Ambassador Van Schaack.
“Anyone is eligible except law enforcement engaging in their official functions. But that does mean that family members, individuals who are known to the accused, individuals who are part of the same armed group as the accused, they are also eligible for rewards. And ... their identity will be kept strictly confidential.”
Any tip can make a pivotal difference. Reach out to the Global Criminal Justice Rewards Program by texting +1-202-975-5468 or emailing GCJRP@state.gov. You can read more about the program on the U.S. State Department's website at www.state.gov/global-criminal-justice-rewards-program
