Congolese activist convicted

The conviction of Golden Misabiko, a Congolese human rights and transparency activist, shows once again the increasingly difficult and challenging situation for activists around the world.

Golden Misabiko, President of the Katanga branch of the Congolese human rights organisation Association africaine de défense des droits de l’homme (ASADHO) was arrested and convicted after being released on bail in August shortly after the publication of an ASADHO report alleging that military and civilian officials had been complicit in illegal mining at Shinkolobwe after the Congolese government closed the mine for reasons of national security and public safety in 2004. He has also been calling for a related contract between the French group AREVA and the Congolese government to be made public. His arrest seems to be directly related to the publication of this report.

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