The arrest of Salomon Kalonda, executive of the political party Together for the Republic, triggered a wave of condemnations of citizens’ movements, in particular LUCHA (Fight for Change). According to Bienvenu Matumo, a member of LUCHA interviewed by Actu30 CD on May 31, 2023, the forceful repression of opposition demonstrations and activists by the security forces is a serious attack on democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. LUCHA demands the opening of an investigation to identify the people who orchestrate the arrests of Congolese opponents. But why are opponents so harshly repressed while those close to power are spared?
However, the question of democracy should not obscure the other problems facing the DRC. Security tension persists in the East, where armed groups continue to sow terror. The insecurity is not limited only to the eastern part of the country, it also extends to certain areas of Kinshasa, the capital. Strikes are multiplying and seriously impacting the economy, particularly that of remote provinces, such as the former Orientale province. In addition, the country is experiencing a sharp increase in crime in all its forms.
Faced with these recurring problems, initiatives are emerging to offer concrete solutions. In the province of Lituri, the government has inaugurated Special Economic Zones (SEZ) to pacify the region. There are also innovative projects led by young Congolese entrepreneurs, as is the case with the Fondation le Parrain.
In any case, the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is complex and requires special attention if we are to hope for a significant improvement. The country needs drastic measures to meet the expectations of the population, while facing political, economic and security challenges