KINSHASA — A court in Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced a political opposition leader to five years in prison on Wednesday, a human rights advocate said, a judgment that risks imperiling multi-party talks meant to organize a presidential election next year.
The court found Franck Diongo, president of the opposition MLP party, guilty of illegally detaining three soldiers during violent protests last week in the capital Kinshasa that killed dozens, said Georges Kapiamba, a lawyer and human rights advocate who attended the trial.
Kapiamba told Reuters that Diongo was not able to defend himself because of failing health and called the decision “totally political”. The government has denied that the prosecution is politically motivated.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
KINSHASA — A court in Democratic Republic of Congo sentenced a political opposition leader to five years in prison on Wednesday, a human rights advocate said, a judgment that risks imperiling multi-party talks meant to organize a presidential election next year.
The court found Franck Diongo, president of the opposition MLP party, guilty of illegally detaining three soldiers during violent protests last week in the capital Kinshasa that killed dozens, said Georges Kapiamba, a lawyer and human rights advocate who attended the trial.
Kapiamba told Reuters that Diongo was not able to defend himself because of failing health and called the decision “totally political”. The government has denied that the prosecution is politically motivated.
The verdict comes as representatives of President Joseph Kabila’s ruling coalition and the country’s main opposition bloc say they are near an accord under which Kabila would step down by the end of 2017 after an election to choose his successor.
Read the whole story from The New York Times.
Featured image courtesy of Reuters.
How Dangerous is China’s New 6th-Gen Stealth Fighter-Bomber?
SOFREP Daily: West Bank Violence Escalates With Deadly Shooting, North Korea Tests Missile During Blinken’s Seoul Visit, Zelenskyy Pushes Allies to Bolster Air Defenses
Safeguarding U.S. Skies: Secretary Kendall’s Vision for a Modernized Air Force
Green Beret Cybertruck Bomber Matt Livelsberger’s Story Takes a Bizarre Turn: Paranoia, War Crimes and Gravitic Propulsion Systems
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.