ban on the meeting of an opposition party, which denounces an attack on democracy

ban on the meeting of an opposition party which denounces

In Congo-Brazzaville, the ban on a meeting of the Republican Movement (MR), scheduled for Sunday March 26, 2023 in the capital, provokes the frustration of this party claiming to be from the opposition. Its leader, Destin Gavet, explains that the MR wanted to take the opportunity to pay tribute to several great Congolese figures who died during the months of March.

With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loicia Martial

The Republican Movement (MR), a young political party in Congo-B which claims to be opposition, was unable to organize a meeting on March 26 in the capital, after a ban brandished by the prefectural authorities of Brazzaville. This formation denounces an attack on democracy.

The leaders of the MR and their activists met at the Hugos stadium, in the bubbling Bacongo district, in the south of the capital. Their leader, Destin Gavet, explains the messages they wanted to convey.

March represents a sad month for the political history of our country »

We are in the month of March, and this month represents a sad month for the political history of our country.he says. Because in March 1977, we lost a president in office, in this case Marien Ngouabi. We have lost a former President of the Republic, Alphonse Massamba-Débat. We have lost Cardinal Emile Biayenda. »

Destin Gavet continues: “ And, very recently, we lost Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas, the main opponent of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the 2021 presidential election. It was an opportunity for us to pay tribute to these great men and to the fight they They led. »

Destin Gavet and those close to him say to each other ” frustrated by the ban issued by the prefectural authorities. They recall that the freedom to demonstrate is guaranteed by the Congolese constitution.

In its prohibition letter, which RFI was able to consult, the Brazzaville prefecture claims to have irrefutable elements which “ demonstrate that the meeting was likely not only to erode the social fabric, but also to disturb public peace “.

► To read also: In Congo-Brazzaville, an NGO calls for “measures to clean up the security apparatus”

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