The Democratic Republic of Congo is the scene of a new controversy around the question of homosexuality. While the third edition of the DRC Mining Week is being held in the province of Haut-Katanga, the organizers have distributed flocked gift bags in the colors of the rainbow, symbol of the LGBTQI2S community. Considered a provocation by citizen movements and Congolese national opinion, this distribution aroused the indignation of many Congolese Internet users.
The tension has risen a notch in Lubumbashi, where the work is taking place, and the synergy of citizen movements has called for a demonstration in front of the Pullman Karavia hotel, where the meeting is taking place. Opponents of homosexuality have strongly denounced this promotion “against our morals, our values and our laws”, and warn that they will not let this “imposture” pass.
This controversy recalls the events of last year, when several embassies of Western countries had hoisted LGBT + flags in the enclosure of their embassies, arousing the anger of the Congolese national opinion. In Kinshasa, tension was also high last May, after one of the foreign chancelleries raised the rainbow flag again on the sidelines of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Despite these tensions, the Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing for historic national elections at the end of the year, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) must commit to ensuring inclusiveness during the elections despite the ongoing political difficulties. For its part, the government encourages the development of agriculture and supports cooperation between sectors to promote economic growth.
Finally, regulations to oversee subcontracting are gradually being put in place in the DRC, with the aim of encouraging the emergence of the Congolese middle class. The control of subcontracting will add real value to local production and limit excesses such as uncontrolled subcontracting and the exploitation of workers.
In short, the DRC remains a country marked by political tensions, but also by a society deeply attached to its values and traditions. Faced with challenges for the future, the Congolese nation must find a balance between modernization and the protection of its cultural identity.