In a recent statement, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has expressed deep sorrow over the assassination of prominent Congolese musician and human rights defender, Mr. Delphin Katembo Vinywasiki, known by his stage name, Delcat Idengo. He was reportedly killed on February 13, 2025, in Goma, North Kivu, while filming a music video, just days after releasing a song critical of the government’s military occupation of the city.
The ACHPR has condemned this act and extended its condolences to Mr. Katembo’s family. The Commission has also raised concerns over a wave of extrajudicial killings targeting young people in Goma since his assassination. These executions, carried out without legal justification, have created an alarming human rights situation in the region.
Mr. Katembo was widely known for using his music as a tool to advocate for justice and criticize the actions of the Congolese government, particularly its handling of armed groups such as the AFC/M23/RDF. His latest song, which condemned military activities in Goma, is believed to have made him a target.
The ACHPR has urged Congolese authorities to conduct an immediate, independent investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Katembo’s murder and the other recent extrajudicial killings. The Commission emphasized the need to hold perpetrators accountable, citing Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees the right to life.
“The defense of human rights is not a crime. It is a legitimate means of advocating for justice and holding leaders accountable to their obligations under international law,” the Commission stated in its release.
Honorable Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, President of the ACHPR and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, along with Honorable Marie Louise Abomo, Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, signed the statement from Banjul on February 24, 2025.
The assassination of Delcat Idengo and the wave of extrajudicial killings highlight the increasingly dangerous environment for activists and dissenting voices in the DRC. Human rights organizations and civil society groups have called for stronger international pressure on the Congolese government to ensure justice and protect fundamental freedoms.
