Medical Report Reveals Circumstances of Manassé Lomboto's Death

A medical report obtained by ACTUALITE.CD has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the death of Manassé Lomboto, a 25-year-old opposition activist who died on September 15 during a march by the C64 coalition in Kinshasa. The report, dated September 16 and signed by three doctors from the Olympic Hospital, including its medical director, reveals that Lomboto was admitted to the hospital's emergency unit at 3 pm with a sudden loss of consciousness, convulsions, and an altered mental state.

According to the report, Lomboto was first taken to Saint-Joseph Hospital, where he received treatment that was unsuccessful, prompting his transfer to Olympic Hospital. Upon admission, doctors found him in a coma with a Glasgow score of 10 out of 15, low blood pressure, and a rapid pulse. They also noted tonic-clonic convulsions and an "ethylic breath." The examination did not reveal any apparent skin lesions. The diagnosis was a "non-febrile coma," with possible causes including a cerebral hematoma, cerebral vascular accident, or epilepsy.

The medical report details the deterioration of Lomboto's condition, including a new convulsion episode between 6 pm and 7 pm, followed by a brief improvement. However, by 9 pm, he was experiencing respiratory difficulties and fell into a deeper coma. Doctors observed a cardio-respiratory arrest, which they managed to reverse with cardiac massage and adrenaline administration. Despite efforts to save him, Lomboto's condition continued to deteriorate, and he died at 10:15 pm due to an "irreversible cardio-respiratory arrest."

The report does not specify the cause of death or mention any violence. It also does not confirm allegations of assassination or illness. The document states that a cerebral scan showed no cerebral lesions, and the measured blood sugar level was normal. However, the results of other requested tests, including a malaria test, are not included in the report. The body was taken to the morgue at 11 pm.

The circumstances of Lomboto's death have been disputed, with the Engagement pour la citoyenneté et le développement (Ecidé), the party of Martin Fayulu, claiming that he was found unconscious in a gutter after an attack on the opposition convoy. However, President Félix Tshisekedi has stated that Lomboto died of illness, a claim also made by the prosecutor general, Firmin Mvonde. Martin Fayulu has rejected this version, stating that Lomboto was in good health and had been beaten during the march.

The case has had judicial repercussions, with Prince Epenge, spokesperson for the Lamuka coalition and a member of the Action pour la démocratie et le développement au Congo (ADD Congo), being arrested at N'djili airport on October 25. He is being prosecuted for "spreading false news" for denouncing an assassination attributed to the Force du progrès, a militia affiliated with the UDPS. Epenge faces up to three years in prison under the Penal Code and six months under the Digital Code.

The medical report's release has added to the controversy surrounding Lomboto's death, with Fayulu calling on President Tshisekedi to provide evidence to support his claim that Lomboto died of illness. The case continues to be a point of contention between the opposition and the authorities, with concerns about the instrumentalization of the judicial process for political purposes.

Key points

• The medical report does not specify the cause of Manassé Lomboto's death.
• President Tshisekedi's claim that Lomboto died of illness is disputed by the opposition.
• Prince Epenge faces prosecution for spreading false news about Lomboto's death.