The past few weeks have been marked by a series of kidnappings, murders and armed robberies in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These criminal acts have sown psychosis among the population and have raised deep concerns about security in the region. The authorities intensified their efforts to arrest the criminals responsible for these acts, which resulted in the arrest of 27 kidnappers, including 4 police officers.
On Friday July 7, the High Court of Kinshasa/Gombe delivered its verdict in this case. The defendants were convicted of criminal association, armed robbery and murder, and the sentences handed down vary depending on the seriousness of the offenses committed. Some received the death penalty, others were sentenced to terms ranging from 10 years of main penal servitude to 2 to 5 years in prison.
However, despite these convictions, the non-governmental organization “The Dynamics of the Fight against Human Trafficking and Human Trafficking” (DCTH) believes that this is not enough. It asks the Congolese authorities to ensure that the convicted serve their final sentences in a prison far from Kinshasa, such as Buluo in Kolwezi or Angenga in Mongala. According to Dieumerci Kitamboau, the national coordinator of the DCTH, it is essential to take additional measures to ensure that these criminals cannot harm the population of Kinshasa again.
This case has caused deep trauma in the population of Kinshasa, who live in constant fear of kidnappings and violence. Many locals became suspicious of taxis, which were often used by kidnappers to carry out their crimes. This situation has also raised questions about the involvement of the sponsors in these criminal acts. Some question the fact that only the perpetrators have been tried and sentenced, while the real perpetrators remain at large, thus constituting a continuing threat to the people of Kinshasa.
It is crucial that the Congolese authorities take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the population. This requires thorough investigations to identify and arrest the sponsors, but also preventive and deterrent measures to discourage such criminal acts.
In conclusion, the condemnation of the kidnappers in Kinshasa is a positive step forward in the fight against kidnappings and violence. However, additional measures must be taken to protect the population and ensure that convicts serve their sentences effectively. The safety of the population must be an absolute priority for the Congolese authorities