KINSHASA: Suspected brokers of the Nationwide Intelligence Company (ANR) kidnapped seven youth activists at a peaceable rally in Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, a youth group mentioned.
The LUCHA group mentioned the activists, who included 4 members of the group, have been bundled right into a white Jeep by plain garments brokers and brought to an undisclosed location.The incident occurred throughout a rally within the capital Kinshasa to attract consideration to the safety disaster within the east of the nation, LUCHA mentioned.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidency, which oversees the ANR, informed Reuters to hunt remark from the ANR. The ANR didn’t reply.
“LUCHA is especially involved concerning the security and bodily well-being of its comrades,” the group mentioned in a press release on Sunday, calling on the authorities to instantly launch these being held.
“As a substitute of finishing up abductions of harmless residents in Kinshasa, safety companies might make themselves helpful in jap Congo the place armed teams, together with the M23, are energetic.”
A authorities supply informed Reuters the detained activists could be questioned on Sunday, however mentioned it was not clear why they have been being held. “For the second we have no idea what they’re accused of,” the supply mentioned.
Saturday’s rally was organised to mark the 600 days that the strategic jap border city of Bunagana has been occupied by Tutsi-led M23 rebels, whose renewed offensives since 2022 have pressured tens of 1000’s to flee and worsened the area’s decades-long safety and humanitarian disaster.
“Whereas we’re involved concerning the M23’s advance, the ANR continues to arrest activists protesting the occupation … Are you with the enemy or with the Congolese individuals?,” mentioned Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Affiliation for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADHO), on social media platform X on Sunday. “Disgrace on you.”
Rights teams and critics have repeatedly accused President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration of stifling dissent and freedom of expression. The presidency and authorities deny this.
The LUCHA group mentioned the activists, who included 4 members of the group, have been bundled right into a white Jeep by plain garments brokers and brought to an undisclosed location.The incident occurred throughout a rally within the capital Kinshasa to attract consideration to the safety disaster within the east of the nation, LUCHA mentioned.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidency, which oversees the ANR, informed Reuters to hunt remark from the ANR. The ANR didn’t reply.
“LUCHA is especially involved concerning the security and bodily well-being of its comrades,” the group mentioned in a press release on Sunday, calling on the authorities to instantly launch these being held.
“As a substitute of finishing up abductions of harmless residents in Kinshasa, safety companies might make themselves helpful in jap Congo the place armed teams, together with the M23, are energetic.”
A authorities supply informed Reuters the detained activists could be questioned on Sunday, however mentioned it was not clear why they have been being held. “For the second we have no idea what they’re accused of,” the supply mentioned.
Saturday’s rally was organised to mark the 600 days that the strategic jap border city of Bunagana has been occupied by Tutsi-led M23 rebels, whose renewed offensives since 2022 have pressured tens of 1000’s to flee and worsened the area’s decades-long safety and humanitarian disaster.
“Whereas we’re involved concerning the M23’s advance, the ANR continues to arrest activists protesting the occupation … Are you with the enemy or with the Congolese individuals?,” mentioned Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Affiliation for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADHO), on social media platform X on Sunday. “Disgrace on you.”
Rights teams and critics have repeatedly accused President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration of stifling dissent and freedom of expression. The presidency and authorities deny this.
