The Democratic Republic of Congo will free five pro-democracy activists in the next few days, the justice minister said on Friday, to try to appease the opposition and ease negotiations over an election timetable after a delayed presidential vote. Talks between the government, its political opponents and civil society representatives started this week after authorities said last weekend that a vote set for November could not be held before July as they enroll millions of new voters, Reuters reports:
Authorities have arrested dozens of people in the last year, who the opposition deem political prisoners, and about 40 people were killed in January 2015 in protests over a possible election delay, drawing criticism from the United Nations.
Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba told reporters in the capital Kinshasa that five activists – four from the youth group Lucha (above) based in the eastern city of Goma and one from Kinshasa-based pro-democracy group Filimbi – would soon be released.
