In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a second arrest in Lucha’s ranks, one of the Congolese civic movements. Ghislain Muhiwa was arrested on Sunday in Goma, the capital of northern Kivu province, during a siege.
as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
It is a gripping link to the complaint from the first lady’s founder, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, who lodged a complaint against Lucha activists. They had condemned an alleged embezzlement of funds intended for the affected population after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in May last year.
The young activist in his 30s was arrested when he went to his parents-in-law to deposit a dowry.
Taken to the military prosecutor’s office, he still had to complete the arrangements: a photo shoot to immortalize the incident, a customary ceremony, the dowry paid. The young activist, after posing with his future wife, returned to custody early in the evening.
La Lucha condemns ruthlessness against opponents of power According to the civic movement, of which he is one of the celebrities, it was on the orders of the lawyer for the founding of the first lady that he was arrested. Legal sources say, however, that an arrest warrant hung over the activist for not responding to summonses from the military court in June last year, which took over from the civilian courts during this siege period.
Not finding Ghislain Muhiwa, the prosecutor arrested one of his comrades from Lucha last month, Perfect Muhani, who has since been prosecuted for damages and criminal association.
While the first crime can be punished with a maximum of twelve months in prison, the second punishment is severe. La Lucha has condemned ruthlessness in recent months against activists and opponents in the country.
Fearing to be arrested, one of the movement’s communicators was forced to leave the city.
►To read: DRC: Lucha mobilizes to hold “credible” and “inclusive” elections 2023
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