[Congo-Brazzaville]: Support for Congolese activists #Sassoufit

Press Release

Congo – Brazzaville is sinking into a socio-political crisis following the will of Denis Sassou Nguesso to hold a referendum, which is illegal in substance; Indeed, the current Constitution prohibits any referendum to amend the limit on the number of presidential term.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, who came back to power in 1997 following a coup d’etat,  has spent more than 32 years at the helm of the Congolese State.

His devastating socio-economic perfomance and numerous court cases (ill-gotten gains, the ‘missing of the Brazzaville Beach’ i.e. over 300 people detained in 1999 and never seen since, Mouebara extermination operation etc.) now motivate his desire to change the Constitution to consecrate impunity.

The popular uprising of October 20th was fiercely repressed (several dead and wounded) coupled with a cyber blackout. Indeed, the regime has cut off access to the Internet, Twitter, Facebook and even the main international radio stations were cut off: RFI was no longer accessible.

Furthermore, there was also a cyber attack against the opposition page, Brazza News,  and the trolling of the #Sassoufit hashtag.

Today October 21st, it is still impossible to connect to the Internet and social networks from Brazzaville. Phone are taped and SMS no longer pass. These facts constitute a violation of the African Charter on Democracy.

We, Africtivistes, support the Congolese people fighting to break this stranglehold and strongly condemn the repression.

We, Africtivistes, support the Congolese people and all citizens’ initiatives aimed at ensuring the return on the path of democracy. We will support Congolese activists and bloggers in the creation of a citizens’ response and accompany them to continue to ensure information and alert work.

We remain mobilised along Congolese and renew our commitment to a democratic Africa.

End