5 community activists and a journalist charged

Jean Marc Bikoko and several other civil society activists, as well as the journalist, François Fotso Fogno, editor of Génération Libre, have been charged with rebellion and free interveners.

There were arrested during a press conference organized by Dynamique Citoyenne, on the theme 'electoral governance and democratic alternation'.

"We were released yesterday evening, however, we will be judged for disobedience to the orders of the administrative and police authorities, and rebellion," said the journalist to Koaci.

A 15-day administrative detention was ordered by the Governor of the Central Region, against civil society activists who dared address the issue of "democratic alternation" and electoral governance.

The reason given by the administrative authority was, 'defiance to the law on meetings and demonstrations.

After their arrest, a national Committee of civil society had been quickly formed to put pressure on the regime and demanded the release of activists and journalist arrested during the event on September 15, the World Democracy Day celebration.

For many observers, their arrest was related to the claim of democratic alternation, in one where the president of the Republic aged 82 years has been in power for nearly 33 years.