In the spotlight: Lucha RDC-Afrique activists arrested during a demonstration against the coinage of duplicate voter cards
In a context of political tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, activists from the citizens’ movement Lutte pour leChange (Lucha RDC-Afrique) were arrested during a demonstration in Goma. They were protesting against the coinage of duplicate voter cards by agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).
According to the movement, 13 activists, including 2 women, were arrested during this peaceful march aimed at denouncing the sale of these documents in the region. Lucha RDC-Afrique strongly condemns this repression and demands their immediate and unconditional release.
The demonstrators were taken to Goma town hall where they spent their first night in detention. This arrest comes after that of several other activists the previous week, who were organizing a demonstration to demand drinking water in Goma. Indeed, for nearly two months, water has become a rare commodity in many parts of the city, pushing some families to get supplies from Lake Kivu, risking their health.
This situation bears witness to the difficulties that the Congolese population faces on a daily basis, between electoral problems and lack of access to basic services. The actions of Lucha RDC-Afrique aim to alert the authorities to these issues and to promote concrete solutions to improve the living conditions of the Congolese.
Lutchi Lamisse, an expert in African politics, highlights the importance of the citizens’ movement in the Congolese political landscape: “Lucha RDC-Afrique plays a vital role as the voice of civil society in an often polarized political environment. Their actions highlight dysfunctions of the system and call for truly inclusive and equitable change.”
Pending the release of the Lucha RDC-Afrique militants, the international community remains attentive to the evolution of the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and encourages dialogue between the various political actors to guarantee transparent and democratic elections