DRC: Kabila systematically delaying polls amid opposition repression - Amnesty

The International rights group, Amnesty International, has in its latest report on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accused the Kabila led government of doing all it takes to remain in power amid stifling of dissenting voices.

This was contained in a 43-page report which documents how the government is violating rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, a situation they say is pushing the country into crisis.

Amnesty accused the government of further labeling opposition parties as insurrection groups in order to jail their members. They also touched on the political dialogue which is ongoing but has been suffering setbacks in the recent weeks.

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SEE- our findings on human rights violations in #DRC as dissent grows amids election delays https://t.co/LrFxT4KQ2z pic.twitter.com/jtRpItG3rI

— AmnestyEasternAfrica (@AmnestyEARO) September 15, 2016

How long did it take Amnesty to compile the report?

Amnesty says it has been following events in the central African country since September last year.

The report titled ‘DRC: Dismantling Dissent: Repression of Expression Amidst Electoral Delays’ is based on 75 interviews conducted in Lubumbashi and the capital Kinshasa in June 2016.

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Who contributed to the report?

Among others, they spoke with:

• Victims of human rights violations
• Journalists
• Politicians
• Diplomats, and representatives of national and international human rights organizations and the United Nations (UN).

DRC government involvement

Amnesty reveals that their researchers also met with top government officials including the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister, the Vice-Minister of Defence, and the Inspector General of Police.

They however added that findings presented in writing to the Ministry of Interior and Security, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, the Attorney-General and the National Intelligence Service, received zero response.