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Top envoy in Congo to help jailed Norwegian

One of Norway's most experienced international diplomats arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday tasked with helping a Norwegian charged with murdering his cellmate.

Published: 13 December 2013 21:53 CET

Top envoy in Congo to help jailed Norwegian

Kai Eide at his hotel in Kinshasa, Congo, on Friday - Erlend Aas/Scanpix NTB

Kai Eide, who served as the United Nations' special representative in Afghanistan, on Friday met Joshua French, the Norwegian former soldier who has been jailed in the country since 2009.

"He seemed in good spirits and is in good shape considering to he has been jailed in a Congolese prison for over four years," Eide told VG newspaper after his 45-minute meeting.

French was on Tuesday charged by Congolese authorities for murdering his former cellmate, friend and business partner Tjostolv Moland, with police claiming that he first drugged him with sleeping pills and then strangled him while he slept.

The charges came despite a joint Norwegian-Congolese investigation concluding in August that Moland had probably committed suicide.

"We do not understand the indictment, given that Norwegian police conducted a joint investigation and post mortem following Moland's death," Svein Atle Michelsen, a spokesman for Norway's Foreign Ministry, told Reuters. "Congolese and Norwegian police reached a joint conclusion that there was no indication of foul play or criminal activity."

Congolese police now accuse French of drugging Moland with sleeping pills before choking him. VG newspaper reported that the Norwegian blood samples showed that Moland had consumed alcohol, not sedatives.

Eide also met with Congolese authorities on Friday and now aims to meet with senior Congolese politicians to try and broker a solution.

"I want of course to get a meeting with the Congolese authorities at as high a level as possible," he told VG.

French and Moland were arrested in Congo in 2009 and later found guilty of murdering their driver Abedi Kasongo. Both have always denied any guilt.

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Police arrest 30 protesters after Congo riot causes fire

Gare de Lyon train station was partially evacuated. Photo: Julien Claus/AFP

The nearby Gare de Lyon train station was partially evacuated during the chaos and police warned Parisians to stay away as a thick, black column of smoke billowed over the city centre.

Authorities had banned protests around the concert by singer Fally Ipupa at the AccorHotels Arena in the capital but dozens turned out in anger nevertheless, facing off with the artist's fans and trading insults.

“With their music, they (the Congolese government) are bringing an entire people to their side while they slaughter and rape women and children,” opponent Willy Dendebe told AFP at the scene.

“I have been here (in France) for 30 years because of them! Thirty years and we let them be here in France as if nothing has happened. So yes, we are angry!”

Police said 30 people were arrested and 54 fined for participating in a banned protest, while train traffic was severely disrupted.

On Twitter, Paris police denounced the “unacceptable violence” and posted a video of what it said was “scandalous behaviour” by protesters shown wielding large roadworks barriers to prevent firefighters from getting to the flames.

Outside the station, AFP witnessed a dozen firetrucks at work amid the smouldering wrecks of about 30 vehicles, mainly scooters. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner condemned the violence and damage caused in the area, while National Assembly member Eric Ciotti described the events as an “unacceptable urban riot”.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen called the demonstrators “scum” on Twitter and asked: “What image does our country give to the world?

'It's a shame'

Congolese expats regularly speak out against artists from home who perform in France or Belgium, accusing them of being close to former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila and his successor Felix Tshisekedi.

Tshisekedi took office in January 2019, succeeding President Joseph Kabila, who stepped down after 18 iron-fisted years at the helm. Many see Tshisekedi as an extension of his predecessor.

Last month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the Congolese army and other state agents committed rights violations in the conflict-wracked central African country.

Just days earlier, Amnesty International delivered a damning assessment of Tshisekedi's government, saying “insecurity and impunity continue to threaten human rights progress” in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lwangi Bienvenu, an Ipupa fan who travelled from Belgium for the concert, observed the chaos from his hotel near the Gare de Lyon.

“It's a shame. He's Congolese, we should all be behind him,” Bienvenu said of the singer. “People will talk about the bad inside us. They put people in danger and they will now surely cancel the concert.”

Paris has had its share of violent demonstrations in recent months with protesters ranging from the anti-government “yellow vests” movement to workers striking against pension reform setting fire to public property and smashing store windows during several marches, and clashing with police.

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