The Democratic Republic of Congo currently seems to face many political challenges. Political actors are called upon to respect the rules of democracy and not to resort to violent practices to gain power or to prevent the holding of elections in a transparent and independent manner.
Indeed, according to the coordinator of the National Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CN-CPI), Mgr Pax Marie André Kito Masimango, human rights violations in the DRC are characterized by three distinct groups. Under the group of crimes related to the activism of armed groups, we can cite the cases of massacres, rape, torture, looting, malicious destruction and deportation of populations. The second group is related to mining in some provinces of the country. The situation is particularly alarming in the provinces of Katanga and South Kivu where mining control is carried out by non-state actors. Finally, the third group of human rights violations are linked to post-election political violence.
Many actors and political groups mobilize their activists to commit acts of violence. The CN-CPI calls on the Congolese judiciary to be independent of any political pressure and recommends that the ICC issue other arrest warrants against the personalities involved in the financing and operation of armed groups.
Meanwhile, the Congolese opposition is determined to defend fair elections despite government repression. The Independent National Electoral Commission has meanwhile promised to ensure inclusiveness during the elections despite the ongoing political difficulties.
The DRC Mining Week, which was held recently, was an opportunity for the authorities to stress the importance of cooperation between sectors to encourage the development of agriculture. The Prime Minister recalled the importance of subcontracting in the DRC, promising for the emergence of the Congolese middle class.
However, despite these advances, political tension remains palpable in the DRC, and many political actors continue to resort to violent practices to get their point of view across. Opposition meetings have been banned in Kinshasa, provoking fierce protest.
In sum, the Democratic Republic of the Congo must continue to work to ensure the holding of transparent elections and the resolution of challenges related to human rights violations, mining and political violence. Cooperation between sectors seems to be a valuable ally in these efforts