France: Congolese General Charged in Refugees’ Disappearance
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Version 0 of 1. A general from the Congo Republic wanted in connection with the 1999 disappearance of 350 refugees was arrested in France on Thursday and charged with crimes against humanity, a court official said. The general, Norbert Dabira, 64, was accused of torture and kidnapping by a Paris court after being arrested in Torcy near Paris. The refugees had fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo during a civil war in the Congo Republic, but disappeared after they returned home. France originally opened an investigation into the case in 2002, citing the principle of universal jurisdiction. General Dabira, a government minister who owns a home in France, was released pending a trial. He said he was “totally innocent.” |