The IX Games of La Francophonie will take place from July 28 to August 6 in Kinshasa, but the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is of concern to the Canadian authorities. Indeed, according to a Radio Canada article consulted on Nouveaumedia.cd, the Canadian government recommends not traveling to the DRC, “the question of delays in preparations and major health challenges are added to the general security and political context” said Ottawa.
The general elections to be held in December 2023 are, among other things, the reason for these growing tensions in the DRC. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have been repetitive and terrorist threats are never far away, particularly in eastern Congo. These elements make preparations for the Francophone Games more difficult, and raise the question of the safety of athletes and visitors.
The country has already experienced its dose of insecurity, like the city of Butembo which has established a curfew to deal with recurrent attacks by armed groups. Despite this, the search of the home of Moise Katumbi, a key figure in the Congolese opposition, yielded nothing. But the conflict between Fally Ipupa and her daughter has also torn the web, the affairs of public figures unleashing passions on social networks.
In sum, the situation in the DRC remains precarious, despite efforts to strengthen security and political stability. Angola’s roadmap, signed to tackle insecurity in the east of the country, should improve conditions, but it remains to be seen whether the measures taken will be sufficient to guarantee the safety of residents and visitors