The Congolese political opposition planned a march for May 20 in Kinshasa, which was violently repressed by the security forces. The Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Denis Mukwege, strongly condemned these acts described as “police violence” and called for legal proceedings and sanctions against the elements of the Congolese national police responsible for these acts. According to him, the Congolese state risks sinking into a “dictatorial drift” by depriving the Congolese of fundamental freedoms on the eve of general elections.
Opposition leaders, blocked 500 meters from their rallying point, have been prevented from demonstrating peacefully, which risks leading to demonstrations as early as next week. This violent repression is an example of the fragility of the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The police violence was denounced by the Bishops of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), who called to “refuse fatalism” and to unite in the search for peace in the country.
The civil society movement, which closely monitors events in the DRC, continues to criticize the situation on the ground. The city of Beni is the scene of growing insecurity, while sexual violence is increasing in the country. Technological progress is not enough to solve all the problems: the launch of the Africa Congo Internet Exchange and a collaboration agreement to connect the DRC to other telecommunications systems cannot ignore these challenges.
Faced with this climate of uncertainty and violence, the Congolese authorities must take urgent measures to guarantee the security and fundamental freedoms of their citizens. The whole world must work together to find solutions to the explosive situation in the DRC