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| - Human Rights Watch said Thursday a crackdown on the media and pro-democracy activists in DR Congo intensified last year under President Felix Tshisekedi. The US-based organisation said there had been a "significant decline in political repression" in the first year after Tshisekedi took over from long-ruling Joseph Kabila in January 2019. But last year the situation deteriorated, it said in a statement. "Between January and July 2020, Human Rights Watch documented 39 cases of threats, harassment, and arbitrary arrest and detention related to media freedom, dissent, and peaceful protest," it said. The most recent case saw eight activists from the pro-democracy Lucha movement detained for a month before a public outcry led to their acquittal by a military court. Human Rights Watch (HRW) also cited the case of popular singer Elisabeth Tshala Muana, a Kabila ally, who was detained for 24 hours after releasing her single "Ingratitude". The song was banned, the authorities apparently believing it referred to Tshisekedi. "Two years into the new administration, the crackdown on free speech and peaceful protest is intensifying," HRW's Congo researcher Thomas Fessy said. "Congo's international partners should publicly and privately raise concerns about escalating repression in the country with the president and his advisers." The son of a veteran opposition leader, Tshisekedi has often voiced support for human rights, and released political prisoners held by Kabila's regime on taking office in 2019. But HRW lamented that "few security and intelligence officials implicated in human rights abuses" under Kabila have been held to account. After ascending to the presidency, Tshisekedi signed a power-sharing agreement with supporters of Kabila, who retains significant clout in the government and military. But last month Tshisekedi tore the deal up, saying his campaign of reform had been thwarted by Kabila loyalists. On Wednesday, lawmakers approved a motion of censure against Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba -- a Kabila ally -- and his government, a move that under the constitution has to be followed by his resignation. bmb/st/dl/ri
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