Congo opposition figure detained by blinken

Photo Source: By U.S. Department of State from United States - Secretary Blinken

In response to reports that a Congolese opposition leader has been detained, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed "concern."

He said his delegation had been trying to find out more about the opposition figure's detention in the last 24 hours, on the second day of his visit to the central African nation. According to Blinken, Congo's government had been informed of the issue, which he called a “possible setback” to creating a “good environment” for elections.

“We have full respect for the laws of the DRC (Congo) but we are concerned about any steps taken that could actually reduce the political space, especially as the country heads into elections,” Blinken said.

After his interrogation by the prosecutor general on Tuesday, Jean-Marc Kabund, former vice president of the National Assembly and ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, was placed under provisional detention, his lawyer reported. A local report said that local officials are investigating him for making public insults and harmful accusations intended to offend the president.

As part of a three-nation African tour, the secretary of state spoke in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, about democracy.

11 August 2022