On May 20 in Kinshasa, the opposition demonstration was repressed by the police. Since then, the situation has been tense in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and political and diplomatic reactions have erupted from all sides. Deputy Interior Minister Peter Kazadi recently held a press conference to address current issues in the country, including the crackdown on the opposition protest.
Despite international and local denunciations of acts committed by the police, Félix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, praised the “professionalism” of the PNC which, according to him, has mastered “the thugs” without counting the dead. Peter Kazadi, for his part, recognized the violence and the disproportionate use of force against the demonstrators but also deplored the blackmail which consists in accusing the Congolese State of all the evils, whereas it is a question of a few elements of the police who have committed unruly acts.
The tension is therefore palpable in the DRC, and the government must face many challenges, such as the reinforcement of the army, the development of Kasai or the renovation of social housing. The opposition, meanwhile, seeks to wake up after years of silence and must develop a structured program to confront the current power.
In short, the DRC is facing major political and social challenges that require urgent and concerted solutions.