KINSHASA, Congo – A member of the opposition in Congo has been sentenced to a year in prison for allegedly inciting civil disobedience, an act that his political party claims is a clear effort by the ruling government to suppress dissent.

Seth Kikuni, who leads the political group Piste pour l’Emergence, was found guilty of inciting disobedience and disseminating false information during a rally held in September in Lubumbashi. The conviction was announced by a court in Kinshasa on Wednesday evening.

Kikuni’s attorney stated that an appeal against the ruling would be filed. During the September rally, Kikuni addressed his supporters, urging them to be fearless in opposing the reelected President Félix Tshisekedi, whom he accused of manipulating electoral outcomes.

On September 2, Kikuni was detained in Kinshasa by agents from the National Intelligence Agency, later being handed over to a judge and sent to the Makala central prison, which is known for its overcrowded and dire conditions.

His defense team contended that Kikuni’s statements were made in the role of an opposition leader, and they maintained his innocence. The political party he leads condemned the judicial outcome, criticizing it as a transparent attempt to stifle dissenting voices amid escalating political tensions. They described the proceedings surrounding Kikuni’s trial as a farce.

Kikuni’s attorney, Laurent Onyemba, denounced the ruling, stating that the Congolese judicial system unjustly sentenced his client to one year behind bars. Since his reelection last December, President Tshisekedi has faced challenges establishing credibility following a contentious 2018 election while also grappling with ongoing violence in the eastern regions of the country.

In a recent development, President Tshisekedi announced plans for the formation of a national commission tasked with drafting a new constitution next year, raising alarms among opposition members regarding potential changes to presidential term limits.