Lassy Mbouity, the leader of the opposition party Les Socialistes Congolais and a candidate in the upcoming presidential election in Congo scheduled for March 2026, was kidnapped last Sunday in Brazzaville by armed, masked individuals—just days after surviving an assassination attempt.
His party holds the government responsible. “We firmly believe that the dictatorial regime in Brazzaville is behind this. This is not the first incident; he has been arrested previously, and the assailants who came to his home were masked, armed, and driving a vehicle without a license plate. This leads us to conclude that it is indeed a kidnapping. We intend to continue mobilizing support—not only among socialists but throughout the Congolese population and diaspora,” stated Martial Mbourangon Pa’nucci, spokesperson for Les Socialistes Congolais.
Several opposition parties have joined Les Socialistes Congolais in issuing a joint statement on Thursday, condemning the kidnapping and calling for Mbouity’s immediate and unconditional release.
"This cowardly act reflects a troubling escalation of terror, intimidation, and systematic human rights violations in the Republic of Congo. It constitutes a serious infringement on personal freedom and a direct violation of Article 9 of the Constitution, enacted on October 25, 2015. We call for the immediate release of Lassy Mbouity," stated Clément Mierassa, leader of the Congolese Social Democratic Party.
Congo's Human Rights Organization has also raised concerns, issuing an urgent appeal for assistance from diplomats and international organizations. The government has not yet addressed the allegations of kidnapping.
