In 2015 , there was an increase in the number of violations of political rights and public freedoms committed by state agents . In many provinces, the month of January 2015 was marked by violent repression by defence and security forces of public demonstrations, some violent, against a provision of the draft electoral law. Even though the number of incidents of this nature dropped after March 2015, the UNJHRO registered a resurgence of threats, arbitrary arrests, manipulation of justice against civil society activists and media professionals from July 2015 onwards. This trend of restricting freedom of expression and violating the security of those taking a critical stance on the government’s actions, indicates a shrinking of the democratic space likely to compromise the credibility of the electoral process.
