The violent arrest of Salomon Idi Kalonda, special and political adviser to Moïse Katumbi, on the tarmac of Ndjili airport on May 30 by the military intelligence services sparked many reactions. According to the soldiers, Kalonda had been wanted for some time, yet he had been seen during several trips to Kinshasa with Moïse Katumbi. Kalonda’s political allies claim he was arrested for harming Katumbi and his campaign against the ruling regime.
During a press conference, the army justified the use of force based on article 190 of the Military Judicial Code, which requires the coercion by force of any accused person who does not obey a warrant. bring or who tries to escape. However, this explanation did not convince observers given Kalonda’s involvement in public political activities.
This violent arrest of a relative of the opponent Moïse Katumbi underlines the growing political tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This situation is all the more worrying as the presidential elections are fast approaching. Kalonda’s political allies see his arrest as a warning to Katumbi to dissuade him from continuing his struggle.
In this context, it is essential for the DRC to guarantee a safe and free political environment so that all political actors can express themselves without fear of reprisals. Violent and unexplained arrests will only further increase tensions and concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. The DRC must ensure that all political voices are given a fair chance to express themselves freely without fear