During the day of Friday June 9, the city of Tshikapa, capital of the province of Kasaï, was the scene of a police repression against the peaceful march organized by the citizen movement, Lutte pour le Change (LUCHA). The latter demanded a reduction in the cost of connecting Régideso, which recently increased from 220 to 320 dollars.
Despite the city hall’s ban, a group of LUCHA protesters defied authority by taking to the streets. The Congolese National Police (PNC) dispersed them and arrested some of them, according to local sources relayed by POLITICO.CD.
The deputy mayor of the city of Tshikapa had justified the banning of this demonstration for “political and social issues”, arguing that the conditions were not conducive for such citizen action. However, the increase in Régideso’s bills is fueling the exasperation of the local population already affected by a problem of access to drinking water.
This police repression comes as the province of Kasai has been the scene of a deadly conflict for several months involving local militias and regular forces. As the country continues to go through a period of political turbulence, social tensions are increasing and citizen demands are multiplying