A Congolese father living in Quebec threatened with expulsion

Fannie Séguin and Jonas Kiese Umba, newly parents of little Kimia, hope for a miracle. On September 10, the father will have to leave Canadian territory on the orders of the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC). The reason: its links with the Bundu Dia Kongo movement (BDK), a political-religious organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its country of origin.

Wednesday morning, the couple in the great Quebec region and their lawyer Stewart Istvanffy invited the media to denounce the situation.

They hope that the new minister immigration, refugees and citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, informed the ministry’s decision and grants a temporary residence permit to Mr. Kiese Umba.

Reproached

Jonas Kiese Umba first told his story to explain his involvement in BDK. After the death of his mother, his father was transferred to Kimpese as an agent of the Congo electricity company. City where my life has changedhe said.

Very young [16 ans] And under the influence of my friends, I took part in political and peaceful demonstrations against the illegitimate extension of the third term of former president Joseph Kabila.

Except that dayas Jonas Kiese Kuma tells, The bullets spoke stronger than the cries. Several people died in a police repression.

Indeed, between 2016 and 2018, several demonstrations saw the confrontation between the police and several militant groups, including BDK, which claim the resignation of President Kabila.

Jonas Kiese Umba, under the advice of his father, fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, two years after his involvement in one of the demonstrations.

What is the Bundu Dia Kongo movement?

Based on media sources, the Canada Immigration and Refugee Status Commission indicates on its site that Bdk is described […] as a politico-religious sect or a political-mystic-religious organization, as well as as a secessionist or separatist group

The movement was founded in 1969. According to RFI, it is Based on two axes, the abolition of borders from colonialism and the rehabilitation of the spiritual and historical heritage of the great ancestors.

A Congolese lawyer present at the press briefing Wednesday morning, Me Lumbala Kabeya, described the organization as a political party officially recognized in RDCnon-violent. They use religion and ancestral practicesspecifies the member of the Kinshasa bar.

Radio-Canada is awaiting a response fromIRCC To find out the reasons for the expulsion of Jonas Kiese Umba and obtain more details on Canada’s positions as for this Congolese group.

The case of Jonas

Upon his arrival in Quebec in 2019, he was considered unacceptable to refugee status. According to the IRCC, he would be a member of a group that wanted to overthrow a government [celui de Joseph Kabila] by forceinformed me istvanffy. This is not true, it is a group that has great legitimacy in Congocontinues the lawyer.

Meanwhile, Jonas Kiese Umba settles in Saint-Anselme, Beauce. He worked the next five years at Exceldor. Since then, he got married to Quebecer Fannie Séguin. He has made a request toIRCCin 2023, then sponsored by his wife, except that the ministry replied by asking him to leave Canadian territory.

I ask for justice and humanityhe said, hoping that the federal authorities change their mind. His lawyer invokes the right to protect the family life of the Canadian child. Before deporting someone, you have to take into account the child. There we do not take into account that he is married and that he has a child herehe said.

Mr. Kiese has never committed a crime, he is not a terrorist […] The truth of the situation: it is a young person who protested a dictatorial government who does not accept protest pleads his lawyer.

Joseph Kabila directed the DRC for 18 years from 2001 to 2019, before transmitting power to Félix Tshisekedi. Since then, political instabilities have continued in particular in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo but recently, the M23 armed group, supported by Rwanda, and Kinshasa have signed a declaration of principle which includes a commitment for a permanent cease-fire.

Involved in his community

Originally, Jonas Kiese Umba’s expulsion date was April 2025. His lawyer, Stewart Istvanffy, managed to postpone the date on September 10 so that the young dad could attend the birth of his daughter.

Fannie Séguin, holding their daughter in her arms, hopes for a decision reversal of the ministry who allows her husband to stay in Canada. Whatever the outcome of the decision toIRCCshe plans to stay with Jonas, she blows in tears.

The family also had a whole community to support them on Wednesday morning, including the mayor of Saint-Anselme, Yves Turgeon, who welcomed Jonas when he arrived in his municipality six years ago. He naturally integrated into the communityhe recalls.

Visibly moved, the mayor knew him as part of the activities of the parish choir. He also officiated the wedding of Fannie and Jonas. For me, like mayor, to see a citizen who fits into this point, who loves us and leads us to surpass ourselves, it is the height of integration and we want citizens like that.

With the collaboration of Flavie Sauvageau