Congo Court Sentences Opposition Leader 5-Yr Prison; Activists Claim Politically Motivated

Congonese opposition leader Franck Diongo of MLP party has been sentenced five years of prison after a court in the country found him guilty of detaining three soldiers illegally in the capital city Kinshasa last week during violent protests.

Human rights lawyer Georges Kapiamba, who attended the trial on Wednesday, said Diongo failed to defend himself as he was at poor health.

Kapiamba called the decision of court politically motivated.

The government denied the decision of court was anyway politically motivated.

Congo President Joseph Kabila was suppose to step down as his mandate ended last month, said opposition MLP party.

Election was supposed to be held in the country last week but the president postponed for April 2017. The opposition blames Joseph is trying to cling to power.

The president argues delay in election is due to millions of voters are still left to get registered in the electoral list.

In past one year dozens of politicians and activists have been arrested on charges that is said to be politically motivated.

Meanwhile, talks between the coalition government and opposition are being mediated by Catholic bishops of the country and is hoped a deal could be reached on Friday.