American Michael Sharp, Swedish-Chilean dual national Zaida Catalán and their interpreter Betu Tshintela were kidnapped on 12 March while on a mission to the Kasai Central province, where rebels have intensified an anti-government insurgency in recent weeks that has left dozens dead on both sides. Their bodies were found two weeks later.


The video shown to a group of journalists in the capital Kinshasa on Monday appeared to show the two experts walking with a group of men wearing red headbands characteristic of the local Kamuina Nsapu militia, according to a Reuters reporter present.

The film, narrated by a Congolese police spokesman, cuts midway through and the two are seen sitting on the ground and then shot. Catalán is subsequently beheaded.

Mende said it was filmed by the Kamuina Nsapu militia and had been secured by police.