2023-08-23
National deputy Delly Sesanga recently questioned the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Peter Kazadi, in a correspondence. In this letter, the opponent expresses his dissatisfaction with the silence and inaction of the government following the attack of which he and his motorcade were victims during their stay in Kananga, in the province of Kasaï central.
Delly Sesanga is concerned that the alleged perpetrator of the projectile that injured his head has been released without any legal proceedings. He believes that the government’s verbal denunciations are mere communication and demonstrate a deliberate policy of terror against the opposition, going against the human rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
In his written question, Delly Sesanga asks the government for an explanation:
1. Why this silence and this inaction, more than two weeks after these odious events which occur a few months before the elections, and which call into question the guarantee of the security of political actors and the tranquility of the country during the electoral period?
2. What concrete measures have actually been taken to track down the perpetrators and sponsors of these acts and bring them to justice?
3. What precautions will be taken to prevent similar acts from happening elsewhere in the country, to ban speech that incites hatred and violence, and to guarantee that the Congolese National Police truly ensures the safety of all, with equal rights of expression, demonstration and movement throughout the territory?
4. Which sanctions will be taken by the authorities against the agents and the territorial executives who infringe the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, in particular as regards freedom of expression, including for the opposition?
5. What specific security measures will be taken to guarantee the freedom and security of opposition members during this pre-election and election period?
Delly Sesanga raises legitimate questions about the government’s lack of response to this attack and the protection of the rights of political actors. It calls for concrete actions to guarantee the safety and freedom of all during this crucial period for the country