Two LUCHA activists, a driver, a photographer and a student, were released the next day. But the prominent LUCHA activists, Fred Bauma and Bienvenu Matumo, remained detained. And for Congolese activists and their allies in the international human rights community, their latest arrests invoke a worrying sense of déjà vu. LUCHA represents a generation of activists that resists being silenced and has inspired an upswing of pro-democracy and human rights activism. His government has failed to tackle systemic impunity and backslid on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 16, 2024 23:34 UTC