News: The CALCC denounces the violence during the electoral process in the DRC
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Congo (CALCC) strongly denounced the violence that erupted during the ongoing electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The president of this civil society organization, Bosco Lalo, expressed his concern about the progress of this process, saying that the political and social climate is highly deleterious.
According to Bosco Lalo, the violence recorded during this electoral period exceeds all that observed during previous elections. He deplores the failure to respect human rights and freedom of expression, as well as the attacks directed against the men of the Church who try to make the voice of the population suffering from this situation heard.
This condemnation of the CALCC echoes the concerns expressed during the 60th plenary assembly of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), as well as President Félix Tshisekedi’s visit to Mbuji-Mayi where he faced criticism over the inaction facing the situation.
The CALCC insists that justice, law, truth and the well-being of the people must be the priorities of leaders. In a rule of law, the security of the population should not be a claimed right, but a republican value guaranteed by all legal means.
This statement by the CALCC highlights the challenges that the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing in its electoral process. It is essential that measures be taken to ensure peaceful elections and a political climate conducive to respect for fundamental rights and the democratic participation of all citizens. The CALCC’s call for better governance and increased protection of the population deserves to be heard and taken into account by the Congolese authorities.