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Radio France Internationale (RFI) confirmed today what DRC Media
Minister told Radio Okapi on Tuesday.
On Saturday, September 1, MP Roger Lumbala, one of the pro-Tshisekedi
opposition firebrands, was nabbed by Burundian intelligence operatives
at Bujumbura airport, upon deplaning from a flight arriving from
Kigali.
After questioning Lumbala, Burundian intelligence services placed him
under house arrest, and summoned him to appear at their offices on
Monday, September 3.
But in the morning of that very Monday, Lumbala fled to the South
African embassy in Bujumbura.
Lumbala was accompanied by a bodyguard, a Congolese-French citizen,
who also fled to the South African embassy.
Lumbala is being sought by Kinshasa authorities on suspicion of "high
treason" for his alleged collaboration with M23 and Rwandan
intelligence services.
It appears that while in custody, Lumbala overheard that the Congolese
authorities had sent a plane to Bujumbura to spirit him away Sunday
night.
Then, sensing that foul play was afoot, Lumbala and his bodyguard fled
to the South African embassy on Monday.
Bujumbura airport authorities confirmed to RFI that a Congolese
non-commercial aircraft had indeed landed at Bujumbura airport over
last week's end. The plane then departed on Tuesday, September 4.
The French embassy in Bujumbura has already secured the safe passage
to France of Lumbala's bodyguard for this Friday, September 7.
Burundian External Relations Ministry told RFI the DRC has still to
formally request Lumbala's extradition.
(Source: www.rfi.fr/afrique/20120906-burundi-roger-lumbala-diplomatie-refugie-ambassade-afrique%20du%20sud-m23-rdc-)
In the interview DRC Media Minister Lambert Mende had with Radio Okapi
on Tuesday, he said:
"Our ambassador in Bujumbura is monitoring the situation.
"It's evident that we are facing a case of alleged high treason.
"And therefore, the Burundian justice system should absolutely help
the Congolese justice system to carry on [its investigation] since it
isn't acceptable that politicians participating in [DRC] institutions
be allowed to backstab the country."
(Source: radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/09/05/rdc-le-depute-roger-lumbala-sest-refugie-lambassade-sud-africaine-bujumbura-selon-lambert-mende/)
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PHOTO CREDITS: afriqueredaction.com
Via: radiookapi.net
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