[{"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__303459__en":{"view_name":"blog_live_feed","view_display_id":"blog_body_block","view_args":"303459","view_path":"\/blog\/content\/303459","view_base_path":null,"view_dom_id":"blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__303459__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__303459__en","data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-view-dom-id-blog_live_feed__blog_body_block__303459__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\u003EThe prospect of democratic elections by year\u2019s end in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/africa\/democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003EDemocratic Republic of Congo\u003C\/a\u003E seems to be moving further and further away, as the terms of a deal laying the groundwork for a vote are largely ignored.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tCongo\u2019s ruling coalition is not only defying key tenets of the New Year\u2019s Eve agreement, but government forces are meting out unchecked political repression and large-scale human rights abuses. The lack of implementation of the deal is starting to seem like yet another delaying tactic to keep President Joseph Kabila in power. Strong actions, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-300811\u0022\u003Enew targeted sanctions\u003C\/a\u003E, are urgently needed to renew the pressure and try to get the deal back on track.\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-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\/31798\u0022 rel=\u0022modal:open\u0022 class=\u0022figure__link\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cimg srcset=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/480w\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx347bq_layout_comp_1.jpg?itok=CcgiK3_k 480w, \/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/embed_xxl\/public\/multimedia_images_2017\/rtx347bq_layout_comp_1.jpg?itok=OK0_zBP- 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\/rtx347bq_layout_comp_1.jpg?itok=OK0_zBP-\u0022 width=\u0022850\u0022 height=\u0022525\u0022 alt=\u0022President Joseph Kabila addresses the nation at the Palais du Peuple, in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital, Kinshasa, April 5, 2017.\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\u003EPresident Joseph Kabila addresses the nation at the Palais du Peuple,\u00a0in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u0027s capital, Kinshasa,\u00a0April 5, 2017.\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022figure__credit\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2017 Reuters\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThis type of pressure has worked in Congo before. The country\u2019s international partners \u2013 including the United States, the European Union, and regional leaders \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/297602\u0022\u003Epressured\u003C\/a\u003E Kabila and his government in the months leading to the end of his constitutionally mandated two-term limit on December 19, 2016. This led to significant concessions and Kabila\u2019s endorsement of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/298259\u0022\u003Ethe Catholic Church-mediated deal\u003C\/a\u003E, which states that he will not attempt to change the constitution or run for another term and that elections will be held before the end of December 2017.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tBut Congo\u2019s conference of Catholic bishops, CENCO, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/301958\u0022\u003Ewithdrew\u003C\/a\u003E from their mediation role in late March, due to the impasse over the implementation of the deal. Shortly thereafter, Kabila refused to allow the \u003Cem\u003ERassemblement\u003C\/em\u003E opposition coalition to choose the interim prime minister in apparent violation of the New Year\u2019s Eve agreement. Instead, on April 7, he \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-congo-politics-idUSKBN1792XE\u0022\u003Enominated\u003C\/a\u003E Bruno Tshibala, a former opposition leader who had been \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/04\/05\/actualite\/politique\/apres-sa-rencontre-avec-kabila-mubake-exclu-de-ludps\u0022\u003Edismissed\u003C\/a\u003E from the main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eeas.europa.eu\/delegations\/dr-congo-kinshasa\/24444\/declaration-locale-de-la-delegation-de-lunion-europeenne_fr\u0022\u003EEU\u003C\/a\u003E,\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/us7.campaign-archive1.com\/?u=bb5815b475de861b33d34f6fe\u0026amp;id=b2b20f5259\u0022\u003EBelgium\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.diplomatie.gouv.fr\/fr\/dossiers-pays\/republique-democratique-du-congo\/evenements\/article\/republique-democratique-du-congo-nomination-du-premier-ministre-07-04-17\u0022\u003EFrance\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0all raised concerns about his appointment and called for full implementation of the December deal. On April 21, Congo\u2019s Catholic bishops \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/04\/24\/emissions\/dialogue-entre-congolais\/la-cenco-critique-la-nomination-du-nouveau-premier\u0022\u003Ecalled\u003C\/a\u003E his appointment an \u201cinfringement\u201d of the agreement they had mediated.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe so-called\u00a0\u201c\u003Cem\u003Earrangement particulier\u201d,\u003C\/em\u003E\u00a0an annex to the New Year\u2019s Eve deal setting out how it will be implemented, was finally \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.jeuneafrique.com\/433279\/politique\/dialogue-rdc-signature-de-l-arrangement-particulier-rassemblement-de-lopposition\/\u0022\u003Esigned\u003C\/a\u003E on April 27 \u2013 but only by the ruling coalition and some moderate opposition. The \u003Cem\u003ERassemblement\u003C\/em\u003E coalition \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.rfi.fr\/afrique\/20170428-rdc-partie-opposition-refuse-signer-une-annexe-accord-mlc-kabila?ref=tw_i\u0022\u003Erefused\u003C\/a\u003E to sign, denouncing what they called a \u201cmasquerade.\u201d Many \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/GrahamZebedee\/status\/857645136158892032\u0022\u003Eembassies\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/fr.africanews.com\/2017\/04\/28\/rd-congo-le-rassemblement-et-la-cenco-boycottent-la-signature-de-l-arrangement\/\u0022\u003ECatholic Church\u003C\/a\u003E did not attend the signing ceremony.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe \u201cconfidence building measures\u201d (\u003Cem\u003Emesures de d\u00e9crispation\u003C\/em\u003E) referred to in the agreement have hardly been addressed. Dozens of political prisoners remain in detention, at least five media outlets close to the opposition remain barred, and the signal for Radio France Internationale (RFI) has been \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/296307\u0022\u003Eblocked\u003C\/a\u003E in Kinshasa for the past six months.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tA confidential CENCO report on two of the \u201cemblematic cases\u201d addressed by the dialogue\u2019s commission on confidence-building measures, which was leaked to the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.jeuneafrique.com\/434772\/politique\/rdc-contient-vraiment-rapport-confidentiel-eveques-cas-katumbi\/\u0022\u003Epress\u003C\/a\u003E last week and seen by Human Rights Watch, found that the trials against opposition leaders \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2016\/05\/09\/dr-congo-crackdown-presidential-aspirant\u0022\u003EMo\u00efse Katumbi\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-298132\u0022\u003EJean-Claude Muyambo\u003C\/a\u003E were politically motivated, plagued by irregularities, and \u201cnothing but farces.\u201d The report, which was shared confidentially with Kabila on March 29, calls for the immediate release of Muyambo, who was arrested during nationwide demonstrations in January 2015, and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.radiookapi.net\/2017\/04\/12\/actualite\/justice\/rdc-jean-claude-muyambo-condamne-5-ans-de-prison\u0022\u003Esentenced\u003C\/a\u003E on April 12, 2017 to five years in prison. It also calls for the withdrawal of the arrest warrant and dismissal of proceedings against Katumbi, who has been living in exile since May 2016, and the release of Katumbi\u2019s associates who were arrested.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tDuring political protests across the country in December, security forces killed more than 60 people and jailed hundreds of opposition leaders and supporters, pro-democracy activists, and peaceful protesters. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-297602\u0022\u003ESenior intelligence and security force officers\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0responsible for the repression in December, and over the past two-and-a-half years, still hold senior positions, and no efforts have been made to hold them to account.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMore recently, security forces fired teargas and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/302127\u0022\u003Earrested\u003C\/a\u003E more than 80 people to break up or prevent small demonstrations across Congo on April 10. Thirty-three activists from the citizens\u2019 movement LUCHA (Struggle for Change) and two bystanders were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/ida_sawyer\/status\/852151799129808896\u0022\u003Earrested\u003C\/a\u003E on April 12 during a peaceful sit-in outside the Central Bank in Goma. They were protesting how thousands of people who had placed their savings with micro-credit lenders that the Central Bank oversees were later unable to pay their clients, and to denounce the Central Bank\u2019s \u201cincompetence\u201d and \u201ccomplacency\u201d in this process. They were released later that day. Police also roughed-up several journalists covering the sit-in. On April 19, security forces again \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.jeuneafrique.com\/431049\/politique\/rdc-17-militants-de-lucha-arretes-lors-dune-manifestation-a-goma\/\u0022\u003Earrested\u003C\/a\u003E 17 LUCHA activists, including three young women, during a similar protest in Goma. They were released on April 22, without charge.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn Kinshasa, 24 activists from the LUCHA and \u003Cem\u003EIl est temps\u003C\/em\u003E (It is time) movements were arrested on April 27, while protesting the lack of an effective waste disposal system in the capital. Police officers ripped the activists\u2019 T-shirts and other symbols of their movements off them, leaving two women half-naked. They were detained in a police camp and later released after Kinshasa\u2019s governor intervened. Thirteen activists from LUCHA and \u003Cem\u003EIl est temps\u003C\/em\u003E were arrested on May 5 in front of the main government building in Kinshasa, where they had gone to deliver a memo requesting employment for youth. They were released later that evening.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tIn Lubumbashi on May 6, security forces dispersed people who had gathered in the center of town for a \u003Cem\u003ERassemblement\u003C\/em\u003E opposition coalition meeting, arresting several Rassemblement supporters.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tCongolese authorities have a long way to go to \u201censure an environment conducive to the conduct of this electoral process,\u201d as called for by the United Nations Security Council. In a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/monusco.unmissions.org\/en\/un-security-council-continue-closely-monitor-recent-developments-democratic-republic-congo\u0022\u003Estatement\u003C\/a\u003E on May 4, the council emphasized the need for \u201cfree and constructive political debate, freedom of opinion and expression, including for the press, freedom of assembly, equitable access to media including State media, the security of all political actors, freedom of movement for all candidates, as well as for elections observers and witnesses, journalists, human rights defenders and actors from civil society including women.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tMeanwhile, there is still no electoral calendar, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/300008\u0022\u003Evoter registration\u003C\/a\u003E has been hampered by insecurity and logistical challenges. On May 1, the electoral commission \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.jeuneafrique.com\/434043\/politique\/rdc-report-de-linscription-delecteurs-kasai-apres-violences\/\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E that registration in Kasai and Kasai Central provinces had been delayed indefinitely. This region of central Congo \u2013 an opposition stronghold \u2013 has been \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2017\/02\/24\/dr-congo-ensure-justice-killings-kasais\u0022\u003Eplagued by violence\u003C\/a\u003E between government forces and local militias and targeted attacks on civilians in recent months, with more than \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2017\/03\/22\/un-rights-body-should-launch-commission-inquiry-kasai-violence\u0022\u003E400 people killed\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/reliefweb.int\/report\/democratic-republic-congo\/urgence-complexe-dans-la-r-gion-des-kasa-rd-congo-rapport-de-1\u0022\u003E1.27 million people displaced\u003C\/a\u003E from their homes, including more than 100,000 displaced just in the past week. More than \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21511\u0026amp;LangID=E\u0022\u003E40 mass graves\u003C\/a\u003E have been documented, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2017\/03\/28\/dr-congo-bodies-two-un-experts-found\u0022\u003Etwo UN experts\u003C\/a\u003E were murdered in March.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThere are grave concerns about increased government repression across the country. The UDPS has \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.rfi.fr\/afrique\/20170422-rdc-etienne-tshisekedi-depouille-rapatriement-opposant-12-mai-famille-udps\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E that the body of \u00c9tienne Tshisekedi, Congo\u2019s long-time opposition leader who \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/content\/299640\u0022\u003Epassed away\u003C\/a\u003E in Belgium on February 1, will be repatriated to Congo on May 12. While the date might be postponed again, the return of Tshisekedi\u2019s body could be a flashpoint for violence between mobilized opposition supporters and government security forces.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThe US, EU, and the Security Council should impose new targeted sanctions against Congo\u2019s top officials most responsible for serious human rights abuses and for attempts to delay or derail the elections. A new round of targeted sanctions from the US would send a clear message that pressure on the Kabila government will continue with the new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296494\u0022\u003ETrump administration\u003C\/a\u003E. Foreign ministers of the EU\u00a0\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/press\/press-releases\/2017\/03\/06-conclusions-congo\/\u0022\u003Einstructed\u003C\/a\u003E\u00a0High Representative Federica Mogherini to start the process for new targeted sanctions on March 6, and they should now move forward with adopting these sanctions during the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council on May 15.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tThese measures should be accompanied by strong public and private messaging from Congo\u2019s international and regional partners, indicating that there will be grave consequences in their relations with Congo if credible elections are not organized by the end of the year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tInternational partners and Congolese political and religious leaders should more forcefully call on the authorities to release political prisoners, drop politically motivated charges against activists and political leaders living in exile, reopen \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296307\u0022\u003Ebarred media outlets\u003C\/a\u003E, lift \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/blog-feed\/democratic-republic-congo-crisis#blog-296110\u0022\u003Ebans\u003C\/a\u003E on peaceful political demonstrations, and allow youth activists and all Congolese to freely express their views without fear of arrest or mistreatment. They should also work to ensure that the \u003Cem\u003EConseil national de suivi de l\u0027accord\u003C\/em\u003E (CNSA), designed to monitor the implementation of the New Year\u2019s Eve deal and the organization of elections, is established quickly. It should be able to act independently and with a strong mandate to support the organization of credible, transparent, and peaceful elections before the end of the year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026#13;\n\tStrong action and high-level engagement are needed now, while there is still hope of setting Congo back on the path towards credible, transparent elections before the country descends into greater violence and rights abuses.\u00a0\u003C\/div\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}]