Twenty five student leaders from universities across the United States call on Secretary Kerry to send a clear message to President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that he cannot extend his time in office. In a letter sent to the Secretary of State, these student leaders from Jewish World Watch, the Enough Project’s Conflict-Free Campus Initiative, and STAND, expressed their solidarity with the peaceful activists protesting President Kabila’s attempt to cling to power. The students drew particular attention to the ongoing crackdowns and arrests against Congolese youth activists.
The letter urged Secretary Kerry to:
- Employ targeted sanctions on President Kabila’s inner circle, including travel bans and asset freezes.
- Support independent investigations into human rights violations and high-level corruption by local and international civil society groups and justice officials.
- Make a strong public statement urging the release of political prisoners, including youth activists from LUCHA and Filimbi, such as Jean-Marie Kalonji, Juvin Kombi, and Pascal Byumanine.