The news often has tragic events in store for us that upset people’s lives. On the night of Monday to Tuesday, July 11, a cigarette seller named Prince Tshibola was murdered in his residence located in the commune of Mabondo, Kasaï 2 district in Tshikapa, capital of Kasaï province. The perpetrators of this crime are armed men whose identity remains unknown.
This news quickly made the rounds of the city, causing great tension and paralyzing economic activities. The people of Tshikapa were deeply shocked by this act of violence. Following the presence of the security forces at the scene of the tragedy, violent disputes broke out between the population and the Congolese national police.
The situation came to a breaking point when the victim’s son recognized one of the police officers present as one of his father’s killers. The uniformed man immediately fled, arousing even more anger among the population. Clashes erupted, with stone-throwing by demonstrators and live ammunition being fired into the air by police officers from the Groupe Mobile d’Intervention (GMI), in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
It took several hours for calm to return to the city. The provincial interior minister, who was acting governor, spoke about the murder, saying that investigations were underway to find the perpetrators of this tragedy.
However, despite promises to seek justice, a climate of insecurity persists in this part of Tshikapa. Traffic and economic activities are severely disrupted, plunging the city into uncertainty.
These tragic events once again underline the need to strengthen neighborhood security and put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of crimes. The population is asking for answers and concrete measures to ensure their protection.
It is essential that the ongoing investigations are brought to a rapid conclusion and that those responsible are brought to justice. Restoring peace and security is a top priority for the people of Tshikapa and for the entire Kasai province.