After several months of legal battles and political mobilization, Congolese opposition figure Jacky Ndala, youth coordinator for the “Ensemble pour la République” party, was granted provisional release on Thursday.

The Kinshasa-Kinkole High Court granted provisional release to opposition figure Jacky Ndala on health grounds. His lawyer confirmed the decision, which was motivated by the worrying deterioration in his health.

Imprisoned since November 2024, Jacky Ndala was sentenced on 18 December of the same year to 30 months’ imprisonment for “spreading false rumors” following his statements accusing the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) of subjecting him to violence and abuse. This conviction provoked strong reactions from human rights organizations and several political figures, who denounced the use of the justice system to target the opposition.

This was not the first time Jacky Ndala had faced justice. In July 2021, he had already been sentenced to two years in prison by the Kinshasa/Kinkole Magistrates’ Court for “direct incitement to disobey the law” after calling for demonstrations against a proposed citizenship bill. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to 22 months in prison.

In December, he was even granted a presidential pardon, but this was never enforced, fueling heated controversy surrounding his case.

For nearly a year, his lawyers denounced “political persecution” and demanded his release. They won their case today, but only on a provisional basis and for medical reasons. Jacky Ndala is expected to leave Makala Central Prison on Friday.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma