Pro-democracy DRC activists released

Congolese pro-democracy activists, including Amnesty International Prisoners of Conscience Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala have been released from Kinshasa's Makala Prison.

The pair were arrested along with 26 other activists in March 2015 and charged with various offences including "plotting a conspiracy against the head of state".

The release comes 11 days after a delegation from Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) youth group met President Joseph Kabila in the eastern city of Goma and called on him to release their colleagues and all other political prisoners.

However, according to a press release dated 30 August 2016 from Amnesty international, they remain at risk of re-arrest unless the charges are dropped.

"The release of Fred, Yves and others is a rare positive step in what has been a very difficult year for freedom of expression in the DRC. The charges against them were politically motivated and must be dropped to ensure that their ordeal is over once and for all," said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.

Until their release, Bauma and Makwambala were awaiting a trial that could have seen them face the death penalty.

 "In a year marked by a draconian crackdown on dissent, activists and political leaders have found themselves behind bars at the hands of a justice system that has increasingly been used as a tool for silencing dissent as the deadline for holding elections looms," said Sarah Jackson.
Fred, Yves are part of the Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) youth group, which was awarded this year's Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award. Every year, the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award celebrates individuals and groups who speak out for justice.

Amnesty International campaigners and supporters wrote over 170,000 letters, sent text messages and signed petitions calling for their release as part of the organization's global human rights campaign, Write for Rights.