Congo-B: the opposition comes out of its silence after the death in exile of Philippe Bikinkita

Jean Itadi, former minister, president of the African Congress for Progress (Le CAP).

RFI

Text by: Loïcia Martial

2 min

Minister of the Interior under the regime of Pascal Lissouba (1992-1997), Philippe Bikinkita died on the night of Friday to Saturday August 21 in England, almost 25 years after the civil war which allowed President Denis Sassou-Nguesso to take back power.

The opposition, which had not expressed itself since the presidential election last March which it lost, asked the head of state to release all political prisoners.

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From our correspondent in Brazzaville,

It was Jean Itadi, president of the African Congress for Progress (CAP), a formation of the so-called “radical” opposition, who spoke to the press.

Concerned about national reconciliation, which in his words " 

cannot be built either in hatred or in division

 ", he asked President Denis Sassou-Nguesso to pardon all political prisoners.

“

 Each Congolese counts, each Congolese is dear,

” he said.

Keeping Congolese who can help build the country in prison is a shame.

We should as well for the exiles as for the political prisoners, to take immediate action and I ask the president Sassou-Nguesso to release the political prisoners.

Their place is not in prison.

They have their place in their family, they have their place in the city to help build the Congo.

 "

Former Minister of Presidents Sassou-Nguesso and Pascal Lissouba, Jean Itadi alludes in particular to General

Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko

, former Chief of Staff, and to former Minister André Okombi Salissa.

Both unsuccessful presidential candidates in 2016, they were indicted for "

 undermining the internal security of the state

 ", tried and sentenced to 20 years of forced labor in 2018.

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  • Congo Brazzaville

  • Denis Sassou-Nguesso