Democratic Republic of the Congo: opponents increasingly repressed
Matata Ponyo, the former Prime Minister and Senator of the Democratic Republic of Congo was banned from entering the room where he was to hold a conference with students from Kwango province. The provincial government evokes a collective boycott of the political opponent by the population, but also for security reasons. According to Adelar Nkisi, spokesperson for the provincial government, Matata Ponyo allegedly hijacked several Kwango projects to take them to Maniema and mismanaged the Bukangalonzo file.
In addition, the authorities have asked all political parties to postpone their planned activities in the town of Kikwit to a later date, due to the precarious security situation concerning the Mobondo militiamen and the insufficiency of the elements of the security forces.
This ban adds to the wave of repression against political opponents in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tension mounts as the opposition is increasingly suppressed by law enforcement. The media are also stepping up to denounce the situation, but the violence persists despite their calls for restraint.
At the same time, the DRC is seeking to renegotiate contracts with China, but the process is proving difficult. The Congolese authorities want a fairer distribution of profits, but Beijing does not easily intend to revise the agreed terms. The country must therefore face a delicate political and economic context, which makes the future uncertain.