Zimbabwe Activist Released, Congo Crackdown Kills Protesters, El Salvador Jails Lawyer, Indigenous Leader Dies, Activists Targeted Globally, and more.

On June 3, Harare Magistrate court judge Lisa Mutendereki ordered the release of Karembera—popularly known as “Madzibaba VeShanduko” (“The Father of Change”)— on account of state prosecutors’ failure to provide evidence substantiating baseless and politically-motivated charges of incitement to participate in a public gathering with intent to commit public violence. Karembera had been held at Harare’s Remand Prison and repeatedly denied bail since his October 2025 arrest.

On the evening of Oct. 20, 2025, unknown armed assaillants suspected of being aligned with the regime broke into Karembera’s home and violently abducted him. He was discovered the following morning in police custody with severe injuries and accused of distributing flyers and mobilizing the public via social media for a planned pro-democracy protest against dictator Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Karembera, a colorful entertainer and self-style prophet has long been the target of political repression. In April 2025, unknown assailants suspected to be linked to the regime hurled petrol bombs at his house, injuring one of his children. In 2022, he was hospitalized from police beating and torture and charged with disorderly conduct for canvassing for main opposition presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa.

HRF condemns DRC authorities’ violent and deadly repression in response to an opposition-led protest against Congolese ruler Felix Tshisekedi’s regime bid for a third term. Tshisekedi, who has never legitimately secured a popular mandate through elections, is attempting to forcefully cling to power with constitutional manipulation while cracking down on dissent in the same way that his predecessor Joseph Kabila did.

Today, hundreds of opposition supporters rallied in the capital Kinshasa for a protest called by the C64 opposition coalition, which had called for a sit-in in front of parliament. Security forces blocked off access to the parliament, and as some protesters attempted to break the police cordon, violent clashes ensued. Police then charged and attacked protesters. Senior opposition leader Martin Fayulu–the legitimate winner of the 2018 presidential elections— as well as opposition figures Jean-Marc Kabund et Delly Sesanga were among dozens injured, while two opposition supporters were shot dead.

Local human rights groups denounced the excessive use of force by police, as well as attacks on the offices of opposition parties Ecidé of Fayulu, FONUS et d’Ensemble pour le Changement by members of the youth wing of Tshisekedi’s ruling UDPS party with the support or complicity of certain police officers.