For nearly five years, the U.S. government has supported and cooperated closely with Congolese authorities and the UN Mechanism on the case of the horrific murders of UN experts Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan and missing Congolese.

The January 29 trial verdict convicting some of those involved is an important first step in uncovering the truth, but the Congolese authorities, in cooperation with the UN Mechanism, must continue their investigation into all possible leads for justice to be fully served. We recall President Tshisekedi’s commitment to hold all those responsible to account and make progress on broader efforts to end impunity in the DRC.

Once again, we express our deepest sympathies to the Sharp and Catalan families as well as those Congolese who lost loved ones in this case and during the brutal violence in the Kasais that Michael and Zaida were investigating.