The intelligence services in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently raided the residences of Moïse Katumbi, opponent and declared presidential candidate of December 2023, as well as that of his right arm, Salomon Kalonda Della, in Kinshasa, the capital. If the authorities justified these searches by facts relating to national security, they were experienced as an attack on the opposition by the supporters of Katumbi.
Arrested since May 30, 2023, Katumbi’s special and political adviser, Salomon Kalonda Della, is being prosecuted for undermining state security. He is suspected of being in league with the Rwandan military authorities and the M23 terrorists to overthrow the power of Kinshasa and install a Katangese national there. According to the security authorities, he was carrying a firearm during the opposition demonstration held last May in Kinshasa.
If the authorities assure that the searches were carried out in a regular manner on judicial warrants, the supporters of the opposition retort that these were unjustified and exceptionally muscular. This situation further aggravates the tensions between the opposition and the power in place, especially in the current electoral context, where the battle for the presidential election promises to be tough.
Despite the tense political situation, a political platform called “Alternative for a New Congo” has recently emerged, with the objective of proposing a credible political alternative and bringing together all the forces of change for a better future for the Congolese people. This initiative underlines the need to renew the political class for too long in business and to propose an ambitious project to get the country out of the socio-political and economic crisis that has plagued it for too long.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo to regain the stability and serenity necessary for its development, it is essential that everyone works together for a common vision. It is therefore desirable that the authorities and the opposition, as well as civil society, come together to find solutions to the current crisis.