DRC: Ban of Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer slammed by institutions and activists

Human rights institutions have slammed the expulsion of Ida Sawyer, an international rights monitor and researcher with Human Rights Watch (HRW), from continuing to work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by revoking her work permit. Since January 2015, the Congolese government has imposed a harsh crackdown against those who have criticised or opposed perceived attempts of current President Joseph Kabila to hold on to power beyond his constitutionally mandated two-term limit (See: Brutal crackdown of critics).

According to HRW, the authorities' decision to block Sawyer from continuing to conduct research and advocacy on a wide range of human rights abuses by the government and by non-state armed groups is "the latest attempt to curtail human rights reporting during a period of increased government repression".

Sawyer has lived and worked for HRW in DRC since January 2008. "The Congolese government's move to bar an experienced Human Rights Watch researcher under the guise of a work permit matter should fool no one," Kenneth Roth, HRW executive director, said.

"This is about more than forcing Ida Sawyer out of Congo, but is a brazen attempt to muzzle reporting on the government's brutal repression of those supporting presidential term limits."

Danae Dholakia, the UK Special Envoy to the Great Lakes on Twitter condemned Sawyer's expulsion as a "Step in wrong direction".

Panzi Foundation: Sawyer's work is 'critically necessary'

Describing how Sawyer's expulsion "follows similar tactics used to expel" other international officials, human rights activist and executive director of Panzi Foundation USA, Naama Haviv, condemned the move.

"The work done by Ida Sawyer, and HRW is fair, impartial, and critically necessary. Monitoring progress and challenges, and encouraging free speech should not be controversial. The voices of Congolese citizens are clear, and now, more than ever – free, fair, credible, and on-time elections are urgently needed," she said.

The researcher's expulsion was also heavily criticised by Congolese youth activist group Lutte pour Le Changement (LUCHA), that said it has "no words strong enough to condemn this umpteenth sign of an authoritarian drift that seriously threatens the rise of democracy and the rule of law" in the DRC.

The group expressed "all the gratitude and solidarity of the Congolese people, on the behalf of a country that has the misfortune to have leaders which power bulimia eventually made them hostile to human rights and those who defend them".

Highlighting Sawyer's "outstanding job of documentation and advocacy" on several rights violations issues, Lucha condoned her "impartial and professional" manners.

"At the time the authorities seem determined to hold the DRC behind closed doors as (we) approach this crucial period during which our people will defend democracy, we are convinced there will be more Ida Sawyer, Congolese or foreigners, to continue the work of defending human rights and the documentation of abuses".

No reasons given for Sawyer's permit denial

Immigration authorities renewed Sawyer's three-year work permit in May 2016, before it expired on 9 August. On 3 July, however, the researcher's new permit was unexpectedly and without explanation annulled when she passed through the capital Kinshasa's main N'djili International Airport following a trip abroad.

Sawyer's employer wrote to immigration authorities raising concerns about the unusual action and requested reinstatement of the permit – after which they told her to submit a new work permit request that was finally denied on 8 August. The authorities provided no reason for the denial of the new permit. Sawyer was told to leave the country within 48 hours.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende did not say why Sawyer's work permit was denied, declaring: "We did not renew Mrs Ida Sawyer's visa and we have no explanation to give."

"Locking up Congolese activists and forcing international rights monitors out of the country are the tactics of abusive governments," Roth, whose organisation has conducted research on the human rights situation in DRC for over 25 years, added.

"The government should get serious about improving human rights by freeing all political prisoners and allowing Congolese and international rights defenders, including Sawyer, to continue their vital work."