Kalev Mutond, former DRC intelligence chief, dies in Paris

Kalev Mutond, the former head of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s National Intelligence Agency (ANR), has died in Paris at the age of 69. He passed away in a Parisian hospital on Monday, October 5, 2026, after reportedly receiving medical treatment in France for approximately one year.

A central figure in the regime of former President Joseph Kabila, Mutond served as the General Administrator of the ANR from 2011 to 2019. Known as the ‘super flic,’ he was considered one of the most powerful men in the administration, reportedly answering directly to Kabila.

His tenure was marked by significant controversy. Mutond was linked to the repression of political opponents and pro-democracy activists between 2016 and 2018. Since 2021, he had faced multiple legal complaints alleging arbitrary arrests, torture, and death threats. He was also subject to United States sanctions and had been the subject of a wanted notice before leaving the country. His death raises questions regarding the status of ongoing legal proceedings and complaints filed by his victims.