6 months before the general elections in the DRC, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) notes the deterioration of the political climate, reports an article published on June 23, 2023 on Fatshimétrie.
Despite the first positive actions of Félixx Tshisekedi, such as the opening of the political and media space, the release of prisoners and the return of exiles, the Catholic bishops note a regrettable setback, characterized by violence during the demonstrations of the opposition, the restriction of movement of opponents, discriminatory bills, the instrumentalization of justice and arbitrary arrests.
Political tension is escalating as general elections approach. Opponents are coming together to demand fair and just elections. Four opposition leaders are stepping up demonstrations in the capital city to protest against a chaotic electoral process. The government violently repressed one of these demonstrations, provoking a reaction from national and international organizations to denounce the acts of repression and demand respect for the freedom to demonstrate.
The worrying situation in the DRC is not limited to the political aspect, with the state’s treasury in difficulty to finance the electoral process, problems of gender-based violence and human trafficking in the sports sector, as well as a dead man after a wasp swarm attack in Beni.
To counter the difficult situation the country is going through, the Prime Minister and the Congolese government have made a firm commitment to promote positive masculinity and the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
As the situation in the DRC is critical on several levels, it is now more than ever necessary for the authorities to take urgent and effective measures to ensure fair and equitable elections, to combat the various forms of violence and to improve the living conditions of population