Article: Arbitrary arrest of the president of the Nzango league during the Games of La Francophonie
The scene was worthy of a Hollywood film but unfortunately, it took place in the middle of the Martyrs stadium during the opening ceremony of the IX th Games of La Francophonie. Émilie Nyemba, the president of the Nzango league in the city of Kinshasa, was the victim of an arbitrary arrest which aroused indignation among the players of this discipline.
The arrest, which occurred on Friday July 28, 2023, cast a chill over the festive atmosphere of the ceremony. A player from Nzango, who preferred to remain anonymous, testified to the incident, saying: “Our president was arrested by security agents, without any apparent reason. We were just participating in the opening ceremony and that arrest ruined our party.”
The Nzango players left the stadium with great disappointment, impacting their morale for the upcoming competition. Émilie Nyemba was nowhere to be found after her arrest, her place of detention remaining unknown until an intervention by the authority of the Presidency of the Republic found her in a cell at Camp Tshashi. She was only released on Saturday July 29 around 1 p.m.
The exact reason for the arrest remains unclear, but players present at the incident say it was a misinterpretation by security guards. The players held up red cards handed out during a training on the fight against violence against women, with the aim of denouncing these cruel acts. But security agents politicized these gestures and interpreted them as criticism of the authorities in this election period.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar situation that took place during the visit of the President of the Republic to Mbansa-Mboma, where an attempt was made to involve the Governor of Kongo Central and the Bishop of Kisantu.
Despite this traumatic experience, Émilie Nyemba does not lose her determination and is always ready to guide her teams with strength and courage. Nzango’s participation in the Francophonie Games is a unique opportunity to promote this discipline as a socio-cultural activity.
In conclusion, this arbitrary arrest marked a blow for the Nzango league, but once released, Émilie Nyemba continues to lead her troops with determination. Let’s hope that this incident will not harm Nzango’s participation in the Games of La Francophonie and that this discipline will be able to shine in this great sporting and cultural event.
Let us also realize the importance of respecting individual freedoms and the right to free expression, in order to build a more egalitarian and inclusive society for all