Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, issued the following statement on the detention of Franck Nzila, human rights advocate, in the Republic of the Congo:

“Yesterday’s detention of Franck Nzila, human rights advocate, is a worrisome indicator that the Republic of the Congo is beginning to use China’s repressive and regressive blueprint of government control and is moving in the wrong direction away from upholding universally-recognized human rights. Yesterday’s testimony from Nanythe Talani before the subcommittee should let the Republic of the Congo government know that the world is paying attention.”