Transparency International condemns intimidation of its national chapter in Republic of the Congo

Transparency International, the global anti-corruption organisation, strongly condemns the attack against its chapter in the Republic of the Congo, Rencontre pour la paix et les droits de l’homme (RPDH), and calls on judicial authorities to ensure a full investigation.

On the night of Thursday 8 March, the RPDH offices in Pointe Noire were broken into and vandalised. Several computers and data storage devices were stolen and the offices ransacked.

“Acts like these, designed to intimidate and prevent civil society from speaking out, cannot be tolerated and cannot go unpunished,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International.

“Governments have the obligation to guarantee the right of civil society organisations to play their civic oversight role without fearing for their security,” added Ferreira Rubio.

RPDH has lodged a complaint with the national police and hopes that the perpetrators of this attack will be found and sanctioned accordingly.

“Last night’s violent attack will not stop us from doing our work,” said Christian Mounzeo, chair of RPDH. “We will not be intimidated and will continue to fight tirelessly against corruption and human rights violations in the Republic of the Congo.”

Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

For any press enquiries please contact

Berlin
Alice Chambers
T: +49 30 34 38 20 666
E: [email protected]

Pointe Noire
Christian Mounzeo
T: +242 06 447 95 76