DRC President releases political prisoners – KBC

The new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has said he wants to release all political prisoners in the next 10 days.

In a speech, he said that he would ask the Minister of Justice to release all those imprisoned for their political opinions.

Tshisekedi took office in January, succeeding Joseph Kabila, who has been in power for 18 years.

But the result has been disputed and Mr Kabila remains politically powerful.

as he unveiled his "emergency program for the first 100 days".

"To realize the democratic progress made in our country, I have made the reduction of tensions a major goal," he said.

"I will order the Minister of Justice to take all necessary measures in compliance with the law in favor of the conditional release of all persons detained for having committed crimes of opinion, especially when demonstrations that took place before the elections.

His speech also discussed the possibility of allowing political exiles to return home to the DRC.

Tshisekedi's victory in the presidential elections marked the first order of power since the independence of the DRC in 1960. Previous leaders have been overthrown or murdered.

He ran as an opposition candidate, but another opponent of the opposition, Martin Fayulu, insisted that he had won and that his allegations of fraud were being upheld. by some election observers.

Some reports suggest that MM. Kabila and Tshisekedi have reached an agreement, although both sides deny it.

This is a sign that the new Congolese president intends to govern in a very different way from his predecessor.

During Joseph Kabila's 18-year reign, opposition demonstrations were banned, political opponents arrested and dozens of demonstrators shot dead.

The December elections were largely rigged, leaving Mr Tshisekedi to win the vote to allow Kabila to retain his political power.

If political prisoners are released, it would show that the new president has at least some power.