Ottawa man freed from Congo jail gets passport

An Ottawa man who was jailed in Congo following that country's contentious election has received his passport, according to a spokesperson for Canada's minister of state for foreign affairs.

Fabien Shambuyi Kalala, 26, was in Congo working as a security guard for presidential challenger Etienne Tshisekedi when he was arrested and jailed days before Christmas.

Kalala was released shortly before the new year but he said Mondayin a phone interview with CBC Ottawa's Alistair Steele he remains "on probation" and that authorities had his passport.

A spokesperson with Diane Ablonczy's office said they have obtained and returned Kalala's passport to him and will continue to offer him assistance.

Kalala had been detained for "insulting" President Joseph Kabila. It is unclear whether the terms of Kalala's release will prevent him from returning home to Ottawa.

Since his ordeal began, the former University of Ottawa football player has been speaking by phone to family and friends in Ottawa, but he hesitates to say too much.

Contentious election sparked protests

Kalala said questions about his time in prison, the political climate in Congo, and his involvement in the election would have to waituntil hegets home.

Joseph Kabila won 49 per cent of the vote in the 2011 ballot, according to the Congolese election commission, and was sworn in as president on Dec. 20. Tshisekedi captured 32 per cent of the vote.

But the U.S.-based Carter Center said the results "lack credibility."

The vote results sparked protests in Ottawa, Toronto and several U.S. cities, as many Congolese in North America said they consideredit afraudulent election.