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Congo will expel the African activists arrested over the weekend following a U.S.-sponsored event to encourage greater participation in politics, the government announced Wednesday.

The activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso are members of movements that have led large-scale protests in their countries in recent years against presidents attempting to extend their time in office. Journalists and an American diplomat were also briefly detained in the sweep, which followed a news conference about the event. The U.S. embassy described the activists as non-partisan and said the event was meant to encourage greater youth engagement in politics.

But Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told reporters Wednesday that the event had nothing to do with democracy and that the activists' goal was to "drive out the president of the republic." He said the charges against them will be dropped but they have been declared "personae non grata" and will be expelled as soon as possible.

Tension is rising in Congo ahead of next year's presidential election. Pro-democracy activists protesting the weekend's arrests were themselves detained on Tuesday in Goma, in the country's east, according to Omar Kavota, a representative of civil society groups in the region. They were later released, according to U.N.-backed Radio Okapi.

One reporter covering protests of the detentions was reportedly beaten, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists which urged Congo to respect the rights of journalists.

In January, mass protests erupted in Congo against proposed changes to the electoral law, widely seen as a ploy to delay next year's elections and allow President Joseph Kabila to prolong his time in power. Human Rights Watch reported that at least 40 people were killed in the unrest.

Kabila has been president since 2001 and under current law is barred from seeking another term.

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Congo to Expel Pro-Democracy African Activists

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VN-UNION CONFERENCE-DEMOCRACY - Video

POS 110 Week 9 Final Project Democracy in America

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POS 110 Week 9 Final Project Democracy in America - Video

National is attempting to control local government in Canterbury, and is denying its people the right to make their own decisions, the Green Party said today.

The Government has proposed to have no regional council elections for Environment Canterbury Regional Council (ECan) until 2016 and then to have Ministers appoint six members of the 13-person regional council after the 2016 elections. ECan has been run by seven Government-appointed commissioners since 2010.

"National doesn't seem to trust the people of Canterbury to elect councillors to act in the best interests of the region. This is a we know better than you proposal," Green Party Christchurch spokesperson Eugenie Sage said.

"What National is proposing is a significant wind back of local democracy. The Government wants to impose yes-men and women to act in the interests of Wellington Ministers rather than have locals who are responsible to the people of Canterbury.

"Its a Wellington-controlled model, plain and simple. We need a 100% Canterbury-controlled model, the way other regions operate, not one where Cantabrians are second class citizens as far as regional democracy is concerned.

"National has broken its 2010 promise to restore regional democracy by 2013. It stole regional democracy in Canterbury to facilitate more irrigation development, more water pollution and a weaker planning regime to benefit irrigators and water users. Thats why it wants to appoint so many council members rather than trust voters to elect councillors to represent them.

"The Green Party would restore democracy to Canterbury, and put decision-making back into the hands of the people who live there and away from the yes-men and women in Wellington," said Ms Sage.

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Govt 'still denying Cantabrians regional democracy'

Representative democracy doesn't reflect technological realities of the 21st century

AMHERST Representative democracy leaves many people feeling disenfranchised from the political system.

Dave Mathieson - Cumberland News Now

Kenneth Jackson wishes citizens could have a direct impact on the democratic process, and he will discuss his concept for a new model of democratic government March 26 at the Four Fathers Library in Amherst. The presentation is from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

There is an election every four or five years and, in between, thats basically it, thats your level of involvement, said Kenneth Jackson, an Amherst author, while discussing U.S. and Canadian politics. This is an opportunity for citizens to gain more control and put faith back into the system.

Jackson will discuss a concept he developed called Engaged Democracy March 26 at the Four Fathers Library in Amherst.

People have discussed electoral reform, different ways of voting or changing constituencies, but Ive havent seen many people proposing to do away with representative democracy, said Jackson.

He says representative democracy is out-dated and doesnt reflect the technological realities of the 21st century.

Part of my mindset is that were moving into the digital age. Everybody has access to put their opinion forward, said Jackson. Why as a government system would we rely on something where one person talks on behalf of 500,000 other people? That, rationally, doesnt make sense anymore.

His system would change the role of members of parliament and the roles of the citizen.

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Jackson calling for revolution of democratic process