The burning news in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to capture attention, with many events that deserve to be brought to the attention of the public. Today, we look at a significant event that took place in Goma, where activists from the citizens’ movement Lutte pour leChange (Lucha RDC-Afrique) were arrested during a demonstration against the coinage of duplicate cards of voters.
This peaceful demonstration aimed to denounce the sale of these documents by agents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) in the region. Unfortunately, more than a dozen activists were arrested and taken to Goma town hall, where they spent their first night in detention.
The arrest comes on top of other recent incidents as activists staged another protest to demand clean water in the city of Goma, a commodity that has been in short supply for nearly two months.
These events raise important questions about freedom of expression and respect for citizens’ rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ensuring an environment conducive to freedom of peaceful protest and the voice of citizens is essential to fostering open and constructive dialogue around issues that affect people.
The Fight for Change movement (Lucha RDC-Afrique) deserves our support in its fight for fair and transparent elections, as well as for the improvement of the living conditions of Congolese citizens. The coinage of duplicate voter cards and the lack of drinking water are problems that cannot be ignored and require immediate attention.
It is therefore essential to put pressure on the Congolese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the activists arrested during this demonstration. Moreover, concrete actions must be taken to remedy the underlying problems, such as the coining of voters’ cards and the shortage of drinking water, in order to improve the situation of the citizens of Goma and of the entire country.
In conclusion, it is essential to remain attentive to current events in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to support citizen movements engaged in the search for a more just and equitable society. The voice of committed activists must be heard and their fundamental rights must be respected. Only collective action and continued commitment will move the country forward towards a better future for all