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(Nairobi) – Two human rights defenders held a press conference criticizing Democratic Republic of the Congo Human Rights Watch said today that a “state of martial law” has been in place in the eastern province since August 1, 2024, without charge.
Among those detained was Jack Sinzahera, 35, a member of the citizen movement Amka Congo (Awakening Congo), a long-time activist and campaigner who advocates Lifting “Martial law” has been imposed in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Also detained is Gloire Saasita, 27, a member of the Positive Generation civic movement, which defends human rights in Congo. Neither has been brought before a judge, as Congolese law requires within 48 hours of arrest. The government should release them immediately.
“Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about the safety of activists Jack Shinzahra and Glor Sasita,” Karin Kaneza NantuliaDeputy Director of the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. “The Congolese authorities should release them and stop using a ‘state of siege’ to crack down on the rights to free expression and association.”
The arrests come as armed conflict in eastern Congo has intensified. Rwandan-backed M23 The Islamic Republic continues to seize territory around the eastern city of Goma. In May 2021, President Felix Tshisekedi, who was re-elected in December 2023, Declaration of Martial Law The military has since taken over civilian authority in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which remain in place. Despite the “state of siege”, armed groups continue to attack civilians, with the Congolese army offering little protection.
Activists who attended the August 1 press conference told Human Rights Watch that Sinzahra and Sasita were speaking to reporters at the basketball court of the Higher Commercial School in Goma at around 10:45 a.m. when they were approached by several men in plain clothes. The activists interviewed said they recognized the men as members of the Goma intelligence police, or P2.
They said one of the men told Shinzahra they were there to arrest him, and the other told Sasita: “You are wearing the flag, you are a patriot, you can come and explain later.” The two men took the two activists into a private car and drove away.
A family member and a human rights defender based in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, told Human Rights Watch that the two activists were handed over to the Kinshasa General Intelligence Directorate (Direction Générale des Renseignements) on August 10. The family members said the authorities have not yet informed them of the reasons for their arrest.
An activist in Goma who said he had visited two detained activists after paying a bribe said that Shinzahra and Sasita told them during a visit from friends that they were arrested for criticizing the “state of siege.”
Human Rights Watch Previous reports The military and police used martial law to restrict free expression, suppressed peaceful demonstrations with lethal force, and arbitrarily detained and prosecuted activists, journalists, and members of the political opposition.
On April 2, 2022, Mwamisiyo Ndungo, an activist from Lucha, an organization fighting for rights and freedoms in the Congo, was arrested and subsequently criticize Posting a “state of siege” statement on its X (formerly Twitter) account. Human Rights Watch said the recent arrests further highlighted the government’s growing intolerance of voices critical of the “state of siege” in North Kivu province.
Below Martial LawMilitary authorities have the power to prohibit meetings that violate public order and to arrest anyone who disrupts public order. Civilians have been prosecuted by military courts, in violation of Congo’s obligations under international human rights law to ensure due process and fair trial rights.
Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Congo is a party, certain rights can be suspended during a state of emergency, but they must be tailored to the “emergency” and be lawful, necessary and proportionate, including during periods of martial law. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Congo has ratified, does not allow for the suspension of any of its provisions under any circumstances.
“The arrests of Jack Sinzahra and Glore Sasita appear to be an attempt to criticize the ‘state of siege,’” Kaneza Nantulia said. “The Congolese government should ensure that siege is not used as an excuse to deprive people of their fundamental rights and find effective measures to address security issues in North Kivu.”
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