Title: Salomon Kalonda in detention: a political affair under the guise of justice in the DRC
Introduction :
The detention of Salomon Kalonda, senior executive of Ensemble pour la République, party of Moïse Katumbi, has provoked strong reactions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As the party fights to participate in the elections in a peaceful and democratic manner, this arrest raises questions about the political motivations behind the case. In a clarification document, Together for the Republic denounces what it considers to be a “rough editing” orchestrated to harm the party and its leader. This article examines the details of Salomon Kalonda’s arrest and sheds light on the political issues surrounding the case.
The arrest of Salomon Kalonda: a crude montage?
Salomon Kalonda was arrested on May 30 at N’djili airport as he was preparing to board for Lubumbashi. He is charged with incitement to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition of war, as well as undermining the internal security of the state. However, the party Together for the Republic claims that these accusations are unfounded and result from a “rough assembly” of the security services.
In their clarification, they recall that Salomon Kalonda is a peaceful man, having chosen exile rather than participating in violence in previous years. They also point out that this arrest comes at a key time, when the political opposition, and in particular Moïse Katumbi, is gaining popularity. Together therefore qualifies this case as politically motivated and non-judicial.
Political issues as elections approach
The detention of Salomon Kalonda raises questions about the ongoing electoral process in the DRC. While the electorate has been summoned since June 25 and the offices for receiving applications are open until July 15, the opposition is meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to discuss the conditions for holding the elections.
In this meeting, unanimous resolutions were taken on several points, with the exception of the request for a new external audit of the electoral register, which remains pending. The CENI asserts that the external audit of the file is not a legal requirement but an activity foreseen in its action plan. The opposition’s request raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.
Conclusion :
The detention of Salomon Kalonda highlights the political issues surrounding the elections in the DRC. Together for the Republic is fighting to participate peacefully and democratically in the electoral process, but this arrest raises doubts about the political manipulation behind this case. As the electorate mobilizes and discussions with the CENI continue, ensuring a transparent and fair electoral process is crucial to ensuring democracy in the DRC