DR Congo must guarantee 'space' for opposition ahead of vote: UN

[WorldNews]

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The United Nations on Sunday called on the Democratic Republic of Congo to respect its citizens' civil liberties as the political climate has turned tense ahead of key elections next year. "Political space must be guaranteed, space for the opposition, space for civil society, for the defenders of human rights," Martin Kobler, head of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO in DRC, said in an interview with AFP. Tensions have been rising in DR Congo since dozens of people died in violent protests in January against a new electoral law that critics say could allow President Joseph Kabila to hold on to power beyond the end of his mandate. "(MONUSCO's) mandate is (also) to defend human rights," said Kobler.

 

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