Title: Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi called to release political prisoners in the DRC before the elections
Introduction :
While the electoral campaign is in full swing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the African Commission for the Supervision of Elections (CASE) highlights the importance for President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi to prioritize the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience . In a press release, CASE recalls that many people are detained arbitrarily, in contradiction with the promises of democracy and respect for public freedoms made by the president before his accession to power.
Arbitrary political arrests in the DRC:
CASE denounces the insensitivity of the Tshisekedi regime towards the situation of political prisoners in the DRC. According to the organization, most arrests over the past five years have been carried out arbitrarily, without respecting the legal procedure in force. These arrests are often the result of brutal kidnappings, perpetrated by services such as the Republican Guard (GR), DEMIAP and the ANR, and are incompatible with the quality of the defendants. CASE emphasizes that many political victims are innocent of the charges attributed to them and are still languishing in the country’s prisons.
Call for the release of political prisoners:
Faced with this situation, CASE calls on President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi to act as a democrat and defender of public freedoms. The organization believes that it is essential for the outgoing president to rid himself of any anti-democratic reputation before the December 20 elections. She thus invites the Head of State to order a measure of presidential pardon in favor of illegally arrested figures, in order to reaffirm his commitment to democracy and human rights in the DRC.
Conclusion :
The release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in the DRC is a crucial issue during this electoral period. CASE encourages President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi to take concrete measures to guarantee respect for human rights and democracy in the country. By releasing people arbitrarily detained, President Tshisekedi could strengthen his credibility and contribute to the establishment of a more open political climate respectful of individual freedoms.