Concern over detention of NGO activist

Human rights organisations have expressed concern over the detention of a prominent NGO activist in Kinshasa. Badouin Hamuli Kabarhuza, president of the Conseil national des organisations non-gouvernementales de developpement du Congo (CNONGD) was detained earlier this month by the security forces upon his return from a conference in South Africa to discuss the DRC conflict. The DRC authorities, who did not take part in the meeting, accused him of collaborating with the country's enemies. Amnesty International on Tuesday issued an urgent appeal for his release, expressing concern that he is at risk of torture. The Reseau europeen pour le Congo (REC), a Brussels-based DRC civil society group, described his arrest as "gratuitous harassment". It said civil society was struggling to launch a political dialogue in the country to bring an end to the war, and Hamuli was at the forefront of this campaign.