Rebel RCD-ML accused of torture

The human rights group, Amnesty International, has accused the Ugandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie-Mouvement de liberation (RCD-ML) of arresting and torturing two of its senior members for “backing a mutiny”. The arrested officials were named as Michel Rudatenguha, deputy commissioner for mines and energy, and Mukalayi, a former brigade commander. “They are locked up in a hole in the ground where they are reportedly being seriously tortured,” Amnesty said in a statement. “They are understood to have been accused of promoting an unsuccessful attempt to depose the RCD-ML leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, although it is not clear if they have been formally charged.” Ateenyi Tibasima, a senior RCD-ML official opposed to Wamba, told IRIN the two men “have been locked up in underground cells and we are told they are being severely beaten on a daily basis”. “We believe that political differences should not be solved by crude means such as torture and call on everybody to demand their release,” he added. The RCD-ML is experiencing leadership wrangles with senior members challenging Professor Wamba dia Wamba’s leadership.