DRC: Authorities release 19 'Bye-Bye Kabila' activists detained since Dec. 21

Congolese authorities on Tuesday released 19 activists from the political opposition movement, Lucha DRC – a youth movement that defines itself as a “non-violent, non-partisan.’‘

The activists were arrested about a week ago during demonstrations against the continued stay in power of president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, beyond the end of his mandate.

“La Lucha confirms the release Tuesday of 18 comrades arrested on 21 December in Goma, during a sit-in in front of the governorate of the province of North Kivu (east of the country),’‘ Ghislain Muhiwa, one of the leaders told AFP.

“Another Lucha activist, Gloria Senga, who was kidnapped on 18 December in Kinshasa, is also released,” he added.

#Urgent: Nos 18 collègues arrêtés le 21/12 sont tous libres aujourd'hui. La lutte continue! Merci pour votre soutien! luchaRDC #Rebecca pic.twitter.com/t5MPgvPUPV

— Fred Bauma (fredbauma90) December 27, 2016

The group which championed the ‘Bye-Bye Kabila’ campaign said they were however worried about the fate of five comrades from Goma and two comrades from Mbuji-Mayi, who are still in detention.

#CongoCrisis: Gloria in Kinshasa+18 #LUCHA activists in Goma now free. Carbone Beni +others in Kin, Goma, Mbujj-Mayi still missing, detained https://t.co/LxaaCGNMNI

— Ida Sawyer (@ida_sawyer) December 27, 2016

The head of the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC, José Maria Aranaz, confirmed these releases, but said he remained “concerned about the fate of 6 to 7 other activists who were arrested arbitrarily and still remain in detention.

The “Bye-Bye Kabila” campaign was launched to protest the stay in power of Kabila after the official expiration of his term on 20 December.