On Thursday, May 30, 2023, Kinshasa experienced political tensions following the brutal repression of the opposition march by police forces the previous week. However, no one could have imagined that a huge surprise was about to occur. Moïse Katumbi and Salomon Idi Kalonda Della, two very well-informed political opponents, broke camp before an astonishing scene took place at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa. Armed men indeed hooded Salomon Idi Kalonda Della, right arm of Moïse Katumbi, in a few minutes. The video of this arrest was exploited by the opposition communication network, provoking a wave of indignation.
The Financial Director of the Tout-puissant Mazembe Football Club, who is also one of Moïse Katumbi’s political advisers, was arbitrarily hooded. Salomon Idi Kalonda Della is a man who has always worked behind the scenes, and who has been able to create an effective communication network, which is very useful in these situations. According to those close to him, Della was already aware of a possible plan to arrest him following the repression of the opposition march on May 20, but no one would have imagined that Felix Tshisekedi would take action.
This arbitrary arrest quickly made the buzz on social networks, scandalizing political opponents, activists, journalists and opinion leaders. Moïse Katumbi strongly condemned this arrest, likening this act to a “villainous kidnapping”. Following this incident, he left Kinshasa for Lubumbashi.
This poignant news came as the DRC was experiencing a fragile security situation, demonstrations by transporters, assassinations of finalist students and a reflection on the establishment of special economic zones to pacify the province of Lituri. In this atmosphere, the Common Front for Congo also sounded the alarm on the fragility of the security situation in the country. Finally, the ICC was also very active in the province of Lituri to fight against impunity.
In short, the arbitrary arrest of Salomon Idi Kalonda Della caused a real scandal in the DRC, when the country was already mired in a tense security situation. The opposition’s communication networks worked well to disseminate this information to as many people as possible. It is regrettable that the DRC fails to find political stability for the well-being of its population