Political Prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Twelve people arrested during a peaceful demonstration organized by the LUCHA youth movement in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on November 28.
Twelve people arrested during a peaceful demonstration organized by the LUCHA youth movement in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on November 28. © 2015 Timo Mueller / Human Rights Watch
Human rights defender arrested in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on January 21, 2015
Christopher Ngoyi. Human rights defender arrested in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on January 21, 2015 and held at an intelligence agency detention center for 20 days before being transferred to Kinshasa’s central prison.  © Private
Opposition political party leader arrested in Goma on January 22, 201
Ernest Kyaviro. Opposition political party leader arrested in Goma on January 22, 2015 and transferred to Kinshasa where he was held at an intelligence agency detention center for 86 days before being transferred to Kinshasa’s central prison.  © Private
Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala. Activists with the Filimbi pro-democracy youth movement arrested on March 15.
Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala. Activists with the Filimbi pro-democracy youth movement arrested on March 15, 2015 and held at an intelligence agency detention facility for several weeks before being transferred to Kinshasa’s central prison. © 2015 Private
Jean-Claude Muyambo. President of the opposition SCODE political party arrested in Kinshasa on January 20, 2015.
Jean-Claude Muyambo. President of the opposition SCODE political party arrested in Kinshasa on January 20, 2015 after mobilizing participation in the demonstrations against proposed changes to the electoral law.  © 2015 AFP
Junior Mapeke N Labuknown as Radek Supreme. Congolese musician who was arrested in Kinshasa.
Junior Mapeke N Labu, known as Radek Supreme. Congolese musician who was arrested in Kinshasa in May 2015 and accused of having links with the pro-democracy youth movement Filimbi. He is being held at an intelligence agency detention facility.  © Private
Juvin Kombi. LUCHA youth activist arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma on November 28.
Juvin Kombi. LUCHA youth activist arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma on November 28, 2015.  © 2015 Alexis Bouvy
Pascal Byumanine. LUCHA youth activist arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma on November 28.
Pascal Byumanine. LUCHA youth activist arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Goma on November 28, 2015.  © Private
Jerry Olengha. Member of the opposition FONUS political party, arrested in Kinshasa on November 4, 2015
Jerry Olengha. Member of the opposition FONUS political party, arrested in Kinshasa on November 4, 2015 after attending a news conference by the party’s president. © Private
Paulin Lody. Member of the opposition FONUS political party, arrested in Kinshasa on November 4 after attending the new conference by the party’s president.
Paulin Lody. Member of the opposition FONUS political party, arrested in Kinshasa on November 4, 2015 after attending the new conference by the party’s president.  © Private

The following people were arrested in the past year after speaking out against attempts to extend President Joseph Kabila’s term in office or participating in peaceful demonstrations or other political activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They remain in detention.

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