Cellphone video captures Congo killings, including man with Kan. ties

Congo’s government has obtained a five-minute cellphone video that shows the gruesome deaths of two U.N. experts – one with Kansas ties – who were killed last month while investigating human rights abuses.

In the video shown to journalists on Monday, a group of young men identify themselves as members of the Kamwina Nsapu militia.

American Michael Sharp, whose parents live in Hesston; Swedish national Zaida Catalan; and their interpreter, Betu Tshintela, went missing on March 12 in central Congo, and their bodies were found two weeks later. Three others working with the team are still missing.

Congo’s government has vowed justice for the victims and has arrested two suspects, though one escaped custody.

More than 400 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced since government troops killed the militia’s leader in August, according to the United Nations.

This story was originally published April 24, 2017 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Cellphone video captures Congo killings, including man with Kan. ties."