A court in Congo Republic has thrown out a challenge to opposition leader Paulin Makaya’sprison sentence for his role in protests against a third term for President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
Makaya was sentenced to two years in jail last July on four counts including incitement to disturb public order” during a demonstration in October 2015, when thousands of people took to the streets to protest against a referendum on a third term for Sassou Nguesso.
He has repeatedly denied the charges.
Four people were killed at the march in October 2015 when security forces opened fire on a crowd that had refused to disperse. Residents said the violence was the worst since Sassou Nguesso retook power in 1997 at the end of a brief civil war.
Makaya was also charged about four thousand dollars in fine. He is not the only opposition figure to face Congo’s justice system.
