DRC: UN worries about arbitrary intimidation, arrests and detentions

Text by: RFI Follow

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations is concerned about the deterioration of respect for human rights in certain provinces. Intimidation, arbitrary arrests and detentions of activists, journalists and members of political parties have risen sharply since the establishment of the state of emergency, declared on March 24, as part of the fight against coronavirus epidemic.

Publicity

Latest arrests to date, those of three activists and a journalist, detained in the province of Mongala for having denounced the bad management of the province.

According to the United Nations human rights office, at least sixteen people have been wrongfully arrested since the introduction of the state of emergency. Activists, journalists and politicians are detained for criticizing the provincial authorities.

This is the case, for example, of the spokesperson for the Congolese Party for Progress, in South Kivu, who was prosecuted for contempt of the provincial governor. This is also the case of an activist from the Citizen Engagement movement, arrested in Ecuador last January for criticizing the management of the province.

According to the United Nations office, some provincial officials are taking advantage of the state of emergency to muzzle freedom of expression. This is what happens in Mongala, South Ubangi, Haut Uele, South Kivu, Ecuador and especially the central Kasai where the governor is accused of having uttered death threats.

The Congolese Minister for Human Rights, André Lite Ase-bea, considers these arrests totally unacceptable and reiterates the commitment of his government to respect for human rights.

"  For me, it is nothing less than a gross violation of human rights because in our country, the status of the opposition is recognized. In other words, the challenge in the DRC is recognized by law and no one can be the subject of prosecution of any kind whatsoever, in the case where he would have denounced bad governance, "he said. He specifies.

For the Human Rights Office, this trend is worrying on the part of a government which, until now, has shown signs of openness.

► Read also: Human rights violations decrease only very little in the DRC

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Ground floor
• Human rights