Murder of Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe

On January 24, 2022, three men killed Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe, a Congolese immigrant in Brazil, in a beach kiosk called Tropicália in Rio de Janeiro.

Murder of Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe
DateJanuary 24, 2022 (2022-01-24)
Typemurder
Suspects
  • Aleson Cristiano de Oliveira Fonseca "Dezenove"[1]
  • Brendon Alexander Luz da Silva "Totta"[1]
  • Fábio Pirineus da Silva "Belo"[1]

Kabagambe's family learned about his death in the next day and his death was reported in newspapers on January 29. The reports followed by reactions on social networks condemning the murder and demanding justice. Politicians, celebrities, and organizations linked to human rights and the black rights movement also expressed their outrage at Kabagambe's murder.

On February 5, protests in memory of Kabagambe took place in several Brazilian capitals and at the Brazilian embassy in Berlin, Germany. The protests denounced racism and xenophobia. Some protests also called for impeachment against Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro.[2]

Background

Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe was born in Bunia, in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[3] Because of the Ituri conflict, Kabagambe and his family, together with his siblings and mother, left the DRC as refugees and migrated to Brazil in 2011.[4] Kabagambe worked in a beach kiosk called Tropicália in Barra da Tijuca district, Rio de Janeiro, receiving daily wages for his work.[5][6]

Day of the murder

On January 24, 2022, Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe went to the Tropicália kiosk to collect two days' unpaid wages worth R$200 (US$38). According to family members, he was tied up and beaten with weapons including a baseball bat.[4][6] A couple who witnessed the incident said they asked for help from two municipal guards and that the guards did not go to check on the kiosk.[7]

A video circulated by the press and on social media,[8][9] shows Kabagambe arguing with an employee, who grabs a piece of wood. In response, Kabagambe picks up a chair and a broom, and shortly after releases them. Kabagambe then takes out a bag and his shirt, and opens the freezer, when another man approaches and starts to attack Kabagambe. Two other unidentified men join in the violence against Kabagambe. The aggressors, noticing Kabagambe's lack of reaction, unsuccessfully try to help him by performing CPR. At the end of the video, Kabagambe is dragged away.[10]

According to the local Instituto Médico Legal, the institution responsible for autopsies in Brazil, Kabagambe died due to blunt trauma to his chest.[4]

Aftermath

Kabagambe's relatives told the press they were intimidated by military police agents on January 25 and 29.[11] On February 1, 2022, police arrested three people in connection with Kabagambe's death.[6] The next day, the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro announced the arrest of the three individuals already detained by the police and on the same day, the Public Ministry of Labor started an investigation.[12]

The local authorities shut down the Tropicália kiosk,[13][14] and the adjacent kiosk, which was called Biruta, also had its license suspended by Orla Rio, Rio de Janeiro's kiosk concessionaire.[14] Alauir Mattos de Faria, the supposed owner of kiosk Biruta, was considered an "irregular occupant", prompting Orla Rio to open a lawsuit against Celso Carnaval, the actual owner of Biruta.[15]

Lawyers for Carlos Fabio da Silva Muzi, the owner of Tropicália, ruled out any involvement with the death and said there was no debt to Kabagambe because he was not a fixed employee.[16] The lawyers also stated Carlos Muzi had received death threats since the murder came to light.[16] The three individuals arrested by the police assume they were Kabagambe's killers but deny they intended to kill him, or that the violence against Kabagambe was motivated by racism or xenophobia.[7][17]

Reactions

The Congolese community in Brazil released a statement to the press.[18][8] On social media, there were several mentions of Kabagambe's death. The hashtags "#JustiçaParMoise" and "#JustiçaParaMoiseMugenyi" were used on Twitter. Brazilian politicians and celebrities also expressed outrage and disgust at the killing on their social media accounts.[13][19][20][3]

Both Rio de Janeiro Governor Cláudio Castro[21] and Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes made statements on Twitter. Eduardo Paes said[22] Kabagambe's murder was "unacceptable and outrageous", and that those responsible will be punished.[13] In another tweet, Paes is shown together with Kabagambe's family.[23]

In a joint statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and PARES Caritas RJ stated; "are following the case, hoping that the crime will be clarified. At this moment, the organizations express their sincere condolences and solidarity to Kabagambe's family and to the Congolese community residing in Brazil."[24] The Brazilian chapter of Amnesty International published a statement repudiating the violence against Kabagambe, stating the murder was "a blatant and unacceptable case of violation of the human right to life and human dignity".[25]

Human Rights Watch said the murder is "deplorable", and expressed solidarity with Kabagambe's family and the Congolese community in Brazil.[26] The Black Coalition for Rights repudiated the killing of Kabagambe, and affirmed violence against Afro-Brazilians is common. The coalition also said it would help organize protests against Kabagambe's murder.[27]

The DRC's embassy in Brazil denounced the death of Kabagambe and demanded answers from Brazilian authorities. The diplomatic representation stated there are four other cases of Congolese people who have been murdered in Brazil still waiting for the results of police investigations. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (known as Itamaraty), in response, said "Itamaraty expresses its indignation over the brutal murder and hopes those responsible are brought to justice as soon as possible", and also mentioned the process of obtaining refugee status in Brazil.[28] The Brazilian ambassador in Kinshasa was summoned by the DRC's Foreign Affairs Minister Christophe Lutundula.[29]

The kiosks where Kabagambe was killed will become a memorial to Congolese culture, and one of the establishments was given to his family.[30]

Disinformation

On January 31, 2022, a Twitter account that is supposedly connected to Anonymous released the name of a person who was thought to be the current owner of the kiosk in which Kabagambe was killed. Journalist Giselle Aquino showed the claim is false and her findings were published by journalist Diego Sangermano, both working for SBT.[31]

Protests
Protesters in Belo Horizonte
Thousands were protesting near the kiosk Tropicália, Rio de Janeiro, where Moïse was killed.
Protesters in Rio de Janeiro removed a sign from the Tropicália kiosk
Protesters in Avenida Paulista, São Paulo.

On January 29, 2022, friends and family of Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe protested near the kiosk and condemned the crime.[32] In the early morning of February 3, a demonstration with 50 people was near the Tropicália kiosk was reported.[33]

Protests were held on February 5 in several Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro,[3][34][35] São Paulo,[34][35][3] Salvador,[34][35] Brasília,[34][35] São Luís,[34][36] Porto Alegre,[34][35] e Belo Horizonte,[34][35] Recife,[37] Cuiabá,[37] Curitiba,[37] and Palmas.[37] Outside the country, protests were scheduled to occur in New York City and London. Deutsche Welle reported there was a demonstration near the Brazilian embassy in Berlin.[38][39] Besides calling for justice for Kabagambe, the protests denounced racism, xenophobia, and police brutality against Black people in the country.[40] There was also calls for the impeachment of Jair Bolsonaro.[35]

Incidents

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian journalist Manoel Soares was reportedly harassed by White Brazilians when he was near the protest in the Barra da Tijuca district.[41]

In Curitiba, there was some confusion between protesters and religious people. The protesters were in the city's downtown district near the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men of Saint Benedict, where a mass was underway. The priest and the protesters argued, and the protesters invaded the church and protested there for a few minutes. No damage was done to the church or the congregation.[42][43]

Videos of the church invasion were widely shared on social media.[42] The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Curitiba criticized the protesters' actions, as did President Jair Bolsonaro, who until then had not commented on the killing of Kabagambe. Local politicians were also criticized because of their involvement with the protests. Councilwoman Carol Dartora (PT) participated in the protests, but was not part of the group who invaded the church; she, however, received hateful and racist messages from people who associated her with the church invasion.[44] Councilman Renato Freitas (PT) was with the group who invaded the church; he was criticized during a session of the Curitiba City Council by councilmen Osias Moraes (Republicanos) and Tico Kuzma (Pros),[42] he was impeached[45] but the impeachment was suspended by Justice Court.[46]

See also

References
  1. "Justiça decreta prisão de acusados do assassinato de Moïse Kabagambe" [Court decrees arrest of suspects in the murder of Moïse Kabagambe]. Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. Phillips, Tom (February 5, 2022). "Anti-racism protesters march in Brazil after refugee murdered in Rio". the Guardian. Retrieved February 6, 2022. but marchers had a great deal to say about him, chanting "Fora Bolsonaro!" ("Bolsonaro out!") as they filed down the beach.
  3. Kamale, Jean-Yves; Álvares, Débora (February 5, 2022). "Demonstrators protest killing of Congolese refugee in Brazil". AP NEWS. Associated Press. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  4. "Calls for justice after DRC refugee murdered in Brazil". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  5. "Brazil violence: Three arrested over killing of Congolese migrant". BBC News. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  6. Gaier, Rodrigo Viga; Boadle, Anthony (February 2, 2022). "Brutal killing of Congolese refugee shocks Brazil, three arrested". Reuters. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  7. Ferreira, Lola (February 3, 2022). "'Corretivo por roubar': o que testemunhas ouviram dos agressores de Moïse". noticias.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  8. "Dono de quiosque estava em casa quando Moïse foi morto, dizem advogados" [Kiosk's owner said he was at home when Moïse died, his lawyers claim]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. "Vídeo mostra momento em que congolês Moïse Kabagambe é espancado até a morte na Barra" [Video shows the moment when Congolese Moïse Kabagambe being beaten to death in Barra da Tijuca]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). January 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  10. "Morte de Moïse: veja a cronologia do espancamento do congolês" [Moïse's death: see the timeline of the Congolese man's beating]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. "Família do jovem congolês morto em quiosque no Rio diz que foi intimidada por PMs". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Jornal Nacional. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  12. Iuri, Corsini (February 2, 2022). "Ministério Público do Trabalho abre investigação sobre morte de congolês no Rio" [Public Ministry of Labor opens investigation into death of Congolese man in Rio]. CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. Princewill, Nimi; Pedroso, Rodrigo (February 2, 2022). "Congolese man beaten to death in Brazil over unpaid wages, family say". CNN. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. "Dois quiosques na Barra da Tijuca têm licença suspensa após morte de congolês". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  15. "PM conhecido como dono de quiosque onde Moïse trabalhou é 'ocupante irregular' do estabelecimento, diz Orla Rio". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  16. Luã, Marinatto (February 3, 2022). "Caso Moïse: advogados de empresário se contradizem sobre relação de congolês com quiosque onde ele foi morto". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  17. "Presos pela morte de Moïse: quem são, qual a participação no crime o que disseram à polícia". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  18. "Assassinato de congolês no Rio causa indignação – DW – 01/02/2022". dw.com (in Portuguese). February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  19. Beatriz, Puerte (February 1, 2022). "Justiça para Moïse: morte de congolês é um dos assuntos mais comentados do Twitter" [Justice for Moïse: death of Congolese is one of the most commented subjects on Twitter]. CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  20. Ribeiro, Andrei (January 31, 2022). "Nas redes, clamor é por justiça após morte de congolês no Rio" [On social media, there is an outcry for justice after the death of a Congolese man in Rio]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  21. "tweet by Cláudio Castro regarding the murder of Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe". Twitter (in Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  22. "tweet by Eduardo Paes regarding the death of Moïse Mugenyi Kabagambe". Twitter (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  23. "Tweet by Eduardo Paes, with him meeting the family of Moïse Kabagambe". Twitter (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  24. "Cáritas Rio, ACNUR e OIM lamentam morte de refugiado congolês". ACNUR Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 3, 2022. O PARES Cáritas RJ, o ACNUR e a OIM estão acompanhando o caso, esperando que o crime seja esclarecido. Neste momento, as organizações apresentam suas sinceras condolências e solidariedade à família de Moïse e à comunidade congolesa residente no Brasil.
  25. ""A morte de Moïse Kabagambe é inaceitável", afirma a Anistia Internacional Brasil". Anistia Internacional (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  26. "Declaração da HRW sobre o assassinato de Moïse Kabagambe". Human Rights Watch (in Portuguese). February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  27. "Coalizão Negra denuncia morte de congolês a órgão da ONU" [Black Coalition for Rights denounces death of Congolese to UN body]. iG (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  28. "Embaixada da República Democrática do Congo cobra das autoridades brasileiras explicações sobre a morte de Moïse" [Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo demands explanations from the Brazilian authorities about the death of Moïse]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  29. "Caso Moïse: embaixador brasileiro no Congo diz a autoridades do país que a morte 'está sendo usada para provocar reação'". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  30. "Quiosques na Barra terão memorial em homenagem a Moïse e gestão ficará com a família dele" [Kiosks in Barra will have a memorial in honor of Moïse and will be managed by his family]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  31. "ATENÇÃO: de acordo com a apuração da Giselle Aquino, do @sbtrio, Luciano Martins não é do o do quiosque Tropicália desde 2019. Ele foi prestar depoimento hoje na Delegacia de Homicídios, levou documentos da venda e diz que está com medo de ser linchado" [ATTENTION: according to the finding of Giselle Aquino, of @sbtrio, Luciano Martins is not of the Tropicália kiosk since 2019. He went to give a statement today at the Homicide Police Station, took documents from the sale of the kiosk and says he is afraid of being lynched.]. Twitter (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  32. "Family of Congolese Man who Was Beaten to Death in Rio Demands Justice". Folha de S.Paulo. Translated by Kiratiana Freelon. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  33. "Manifestantes fazem protesto em frente ao quiosque Tropicália, onde congolês foi espancado até a morte" [Demonstrators protest in front of the Tropicalia kiosk, where a Congolese man was beaten to death]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  34. "Justiça por Moïse: ativistas protestam em memória do congolês morto no Rio" [Justice for Moïse: activists protest in memory of Congolese killed in Rio]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  35. Phillips, Tom (February 5, 2022). "Anti-racism protesters march in Brazil after refugee murdered in Rio". the Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  36. "Manifestantes fazem ato em São Luís contra morte do imigrante congolês Moïse". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  37. Puente, Beatriz; Saleme, Isabelle. "Caso Moïse: ato no Rio acontece em frente a quiosque onde congolês foi morto". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  38. Puente, Beatriz; Saleme. "Caso Moïse: ato no Rio acontece em frente a quiosque onde congolês foi morto". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  39. Ramalho, Cristiana (February 5, 2022). "Protesto em Berlim pede justiça por Moïse" [Protest in Berlin calls for justice for Moïse]. dw.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  40. Gaier, Rodrigo Viga; Queiroz, Sergio (February 5, 2022). "Protests against murder of Congolese immigrant focus on racism in Brazil". Reuters. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  41. "Manoel Soares relata ofensas racistas em ato por justiça a Moïse Kabagambe". F5 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  42. "Grupo que pedia justiça pela morte de Moïse invade igreja e interrompe missa durante manifestação, diz padre; vereador que participava disse que ato foi pacífico". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  43. "Veja o depoimento do padre Luiz Haas sobre momento em que manifestantes entraram em igreja". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  44. "Vereadora denuncia ameaça e injúrias raciais após ato por Moïse em Curitiba" [Councilwoman denounces threats and racial injury after the act for Moïse in Curitiba]. www.curitiba.pr.leg.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Câmara Municipal de Curitiba. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  45. "Câmara de Curitiba cassa o mandato de Renato Freitas por quebra de decoro — Portal da Câmara Municipal de Curitiba". www.curitiba.pr.leg.br. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  46. "Justiça suspende sessão que cassou mandato de Renato Freitas por quebra de decoro". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
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