Human rights minister under threat

DRC Human Rights Minister Leonard She Okitundu has been accused by a section of the pro-government press of allegedly being too “pro-Tutsi”. The Kinshasa-based ‘La Libre Afrique’ issued a warning to the minister on 1 February. “Our advice to She Okitundu is: Before looking after Rwandans, look after Congolese ... It’s the Congolese people who will judge you and not the Tutsis as you believe.” The periodical continued: “Do you know the role which the CPP (Comites de Pouvoir Populaire or People’s Power Committees) will have to play? It is judging the bad and the good.” The CPPs are being “zealously” set up by state officials in response to a January call by President Laurent-Desire Kabila, a humanitarian source told IRIN. While there have been no reports of them committing human rights abuses, there is much confusion over their role, structure and leaders, the source said.