[{"command":"settings","settings":{"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"core\/picturefill,entity_embed\/caption,views\/views.ajax,views\/views.module","theme":"hrw_design","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"views":{"ajax_path":"\/views\/ajax","ajaxViews":{"views_dom_id:blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298259__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"298259","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/298259","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298259__en","pager_element":0}}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"0ae5601d8790ff50fca3cf23b9ac9170285f2f75823ebdc8d9cc054bc03a679b"}},"merge":true},{"command":"add_css","data":"\u003Clink rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 href=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/css\/css_reI-6YIYy-k9pvxm-gaCRrn5cSrTZRtyAMrp4YXDUJw.css\u0022 \/\u003E\n"},{"command":"add_js","selector":"body","data":[{"src":"\/sites\/default\/files\/js\/js_VkK39bvB4H6LLVemwPFz8QWcUMTFqZ3FFo_LBVv_4vs.js"}]},{"command":"insert","method":"replaceWith","selector":".js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298259__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__298259__en\u0022\u003E\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n \u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Cdiv class=\u0022blog-block__content__description rich-text pt-6 mb:pt-10 mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003E\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297247\u0022\u003Eweeks of intense negotiations\u003C\/a\u003E, and much bloodshed, participants at talks mediated by the Catholic Church concluded an agreement just before midnight on New Year\u2019s Eve. The deal \u2013 signed by representatives from the ruling coalition, the political opposition, and civil society organizations \u2013 includes a clear commitment that presidential elections will be held before the end of 2017, that President Joseph Kabila will not seek a third term, and that there will be no referendum nor changes to the constitution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThis is a significant development, following months of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297808\u0022\u003Especulation that Kabila would not step down\u003C\/a\u003E and open calls by some Kabila loyalists for him to defy the constitution\u2019s term limits and cling to power indefinitely.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EBut huge challenges remain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30630\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x47l_layout_comp.jpg?itok=gtyY3CFD 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x47l_layout_comp.jpg?itok=LHFUBGgT 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x47l_layout_comp.jpg?itok=LHFUBGgT\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022546\u0022 alt=\u0022Congolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba (right) is assisted by Abbot Donatien N\u0027shole, CENCO secretary general, as he signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du \u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003ECongolese Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba (right) is assisted by Abbot Donatien N\u0027shole, CENCO secretary general, as he signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in Gombe Municipality, in the Congolese capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016.\u00a0\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe agreement calls for a national follow-up committee to oversee implementation of the deal and the organization of presidential, legislative, and provincial elections in 2017. It also says that a new prime minister will be appointed, chosen by the Rassemblement opposition coalition, and that the national and provincial governments will be made up of members of the majority and opposition. But there\u2019s no detailed calendar. It\u2019s not yet clear how the follow-up committee will be structured or when the new prime minister and national and provincial governments will be appointed. Many also question whether the country can organize three elections in 2017 and say it would be more realistic to focus on presidential and legislative elections before organizing provincial elections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EKabila has not yet signed the agreement, and while many say that it\u2019s enough for his representatives to have signed on his behalf, the deal would likely have much more credibility in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-295884\u0022\u003Eeyes of the population\u003C\/a\u003E if it included Kabila\u2019s signature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe opposition Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) and the coalition Front for Respect of the Constitution expressed reservations about the agreement regarding the point that Kabila can stay in power during the transition. Many Congolese youth activists \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296996\u0022\u003Esay\u003C\/a\u003E the best guarantee of credible elections would be for Kabila to step down immediately.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed\u0022 data-type=\u0022image\u0022\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-left embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--left\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30629\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x44v_layout_comp.jpg?itok=0lCoDzTl 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x44v_layout_comp.jpg?itok=NG-5HIUP 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x44v_layout_comp.jpg?itok=NG-5HIUP\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022566\u0022 alt=\u0022Felix Tshisekedi, of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in Gombe Municipality, of t\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EFelix Tshisekedi, of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), signs the accord between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila at the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in Gombe Municipality, of the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016.\u00a0\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EPerhaps most importantly, \u201cconfidence building measures\u201d have yet to be implemented, and there are no clear guarantees that two years of repression will be reversed. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297602\u0022\u003ESenior intelligence and security force officers\u003C\/a\u003E responsible for much of the repression remain in office. The agreement says that four of the seven \u201cemblematic\u201d cases of political prisoners or activists in exile have been addressed, including Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, Roger Lumbala, Mo\u00efse\u00a0Moni Della, and Floribert Anzuluni. But they have yet to be released or cleared of charges at the time of writing. The agreement says the other three cases \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/05\/09\/dr-congo-crackdown-presidential-aspirant\u0022\u003EMo\u00efse Katumbi\u003C\/a\u003E, Jean-Claude Muyambo, and Eug\u00e8ne Diomi Ndongala \u2013 and those of other political prisoners\u00a0or those in exile, will be dealt with later by a committee of magistrates or through the CENCO bishops\u2019 mediation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EKatumbi called on the opposition to sign, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/moise_katumbi\/status\/815297748526362631\u0022\u003Esaying\u003C\/a\u003E he didn\u2019t want his case to block the agreement, adding that the bishops have committed to dealing with his case later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, as the agreement was being finalized, repression against the political opposition, pro-democracy activists, the media, and peaceful protesters seems to have continued unabated.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThere has been no attempt to seek justice for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-298132\u0022\u003Ethe killings of at least 40 people\u003C\/a\u003E by security forces during protests in Kinshasa and other cities on December 20, 2016, the day after Kabila\u2019s two-term limit ended.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EOpposition leader Franck Diongo was arrested on December 19, and convicted and sentenced to five years in prison on December 28, following a hasty trial that he attended in a wheelchair and on a drip from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/ida_sawyer\/status\/811326787368128512\u0022\u003Emistreatment\u003C\/a\u003E he endured during arrest. And the provincial parliament of Haut Katanga voted on December 27 to lift the parliamentary immunity for opposition leader \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297107\u0022\u003EGabriel Kyungu\u003C\/a\u003E, accused of insulting Kabila.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EAt least 10 pro-democracy youth activists from LUCHA, Filimbi, and Compte \u00e0 Rembours (\u201cCountdown\u201d) are still in detention, arrested in recent weeks over peaceful protests calling for Kabila to respect the constitution and step down. Some have been held in secret detention without access to their families or lawyers. The Kinshasa representative for Filimbi, Carbone Beni, for example, was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297669\u0022\u003Earrested on December 13\u003C\/a\u003E alongside other activists outside the building in Kinshasa where the talks were being held. His family had no news about him until \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/actualite.cd\/2017\/01\/01\/de-cellule-filimbi-carbone-ecrit-a-femme-garde-sang-froid-prends-soins-enfants\/\u0022\u003Ehis wife received a handwritten note from Beni\u003C\/a\u003E on December 26, informing her that he is being held at the Tshatshi military camp and asking her to remain strong, look after their children, and tell his mother he loves her. A month earlier unidentified \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296770\u0022\u003Eassailants\u003C\/a\u003E abducted\u00a0Beni and beat him badly before releasing him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EOther activists who were released told us about the conditions of their detention. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297883\u0022\u003EGloria Sengha\u003C\/a\u003E, a LUCHA activist, was arrested on December 16 while walking in Kinshasa. She was thrown into a car, blindfolded and beaten, and her belongings stolen. Held in incommunicado detention first at Camp Tshatshi and then at the 3Z detention center of the intelligence services, she was interrogated about LUCHA and its supporters. She received little food and water until her release on December 27.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003E\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022embed align-right embedded-entity embedded-entity-type-media embedded-entity-bundle-image embedded-entity-viewmode-embeddable embed--right\u0022\u003E\n \n\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \n \n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\u0022figure figure--expand text-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__media relative inline-block mx-auto\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ca href=\u0022\/modal\/30628\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x2ci_layout_comp.jpg?itok=H-wQd4dE 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x2ci_layout_comp.jpg?itok=ktZx3mrf 850w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(max-width: 524px) 100px, 500px\u0022 data-responsive-image-style=\u0022embedded_images\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx2x2ci_layout_comp.jpg?itok=ktZx3mrf\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022551\u0022 alt=\u0022A Congolese woman holds a placard written \u0027Women require stable peace\u0027 as they sit in protest during talks between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila outside the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in th\u0022 loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 typeof=\u0022foaf:Image\u0022 \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022figure__expand absolute block bottom-0 right-0 w-8 h-8 bg-white text-gray-700\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022sr-only\u0022\u003EClick to expand Image\u003C\/span\u003E\n \n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022icon fill-current w-full inline-block\u0022\u003E\n \u003Csvg viewbox=\u00220 0 20 20\u0022 fill=\u0022currentColor\u0022 role=\u0022img\u0022 focusable=\u0022false\u0022 aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003E\u003Cuse xlink:href=\u0022\/themes\/custom\/hrw_design\/dist\/app-drupal\/assets\/spritemap.svg?cacheBuster=#sprite-expand\u0022\u003E\u003C\/use\u003E\u003C\/svg\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/a\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003Cfigcaption class=\u0022figure__info text-left font-serif text-xs md:text-sm lg:text-base mx-auto text-gray-700 mt-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__caption\u0022\u003EA Congolese woman holds a placard written \u0027Women require stable peace\u0027 as they sit in protest during talks between the opposition and the government of President Joseph Kabila outside the Conference episcopale nationale du Congo (CENCO) headquarters in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital Kinshasa, December 31, 2016.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2016 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EConstant Mutamba, an activist from the Nouvelle G\u00e9n\u00e9ration pour l\u0027\u00c9mergence du Congo (NOGEC) citizens\u2019 movement, was arrested in the Ngiri-Ngiri neighborhood of Kinshasa in the early hours of December 20 while monitoring as Congolese took to the streets, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297983\u0022\u003Eblowing whistles\u003C\/a\u003E and banging on pots and pans to tell Kabila his time was up. Several armed men grabbed him, beat him, put a ski mask over his head and threw him into a car. He said he was held at an unknown location, tied to a chair and beaten with blunt objects. The assailants threatened that he would never see his wife and two children again and asked him to reveal the identity of his group\u2019s supporters. He was left blindfolded until being dropped off on the street the next day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003EThe signal for Radio France Internationale (RFI), the most important international news outlet in Congo, has now \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296498\u0022\u003Ebeen blocked in Kinshasa for nearly two months\u003C\/a\u003E. At least six Congolese media outlets also remain blocked.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ESo while the New Year\u2019s Eve deal could prove to be a big step toward a democratic transition, there\u2019s still a long road ahead. The parties should now work to ensure strict implementation of the deal. Concrete measures are needed to\u00a0end the climate of repression. Credible elections can\u0027t be organized when opposition leaders and activists are thrown in prison and beaten, and convicted on trumped-up charges, when independent media outlets are shut down or blocked, and when security forces fire live rounds on peaceful protesters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u0026#13;\n\u003Cp\u003ECongo\u2019s international and regional partners \u2013 whose pressure seems to have led Kabila to make important concessions \u2013 should remain engaged. They should support the organization of credible, timely elections and signal that they stand ready to impose additional targeted sanctions and other punitive measures should the repression continue, if those responsible for past abuses are not held to account, or if efforts are made to prevent or delay the organization of elections.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u0026#13;\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n\u003C\/div\u003E\n","settings":null}]