Africa News
As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein begins his four-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Amnesty International has raised concerned on the continued violence in the country ahead of elections schedule for November.
While speaking with Africanews, Representative of the Great Lakes region for, Amnesty International, Christian Rumu called for the release of all political prisoners including youth activists in the country.
“First I would like to commend the UN Human Rights Chief for visiting the DRCat this critical moment as the country plans to organise its elections. As for the next step I think it is important to keep on monitoring the human rights violations by the UN in the DRC and civil society organisations, the next level would be the calling for the release of political opponents and human rights activists,” he said.
First I would like to commend the UN Human Rights Chief for visiting the DRC at this critical moment as the country plans to organise its elections.
The Rights group said it is concerned with the jailing of innocent citizens in the country by the ruling party and plans to amend the constitution to prolong President Joseph Kabila’s rule.
“We just came from the DRC last month, we went to Kinshasa and one of the town and the feelings we got from these two cities was worrying, there is a possibility of violence if elections are not held th is year so we call on the government to allow the people to express themselves in a peaceful assembly during this period,” Rumu Added.
According to Amnesty International there is a need for a meaningful reform of the National Intelligence Service which has been widely used to clamp down on the opposition and civil society, to ensure it acts within the law.
Eze Afrika
