The news continues to surprise us with significant and often tragic events around the world. One of these recent events concerns Salomon Idi Kalonda, political opponent and special advisor to Moise Katumbi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Last Tuesday, he was transferred from his prison cell to a medical center to receive urgent treatment.
Salomon Idi Kalonda’s state of health deteriorated in detention, causing concern among his lawyers who increased requests for provisional release, all of which were rejected by the military justice system. This situation leads us to question the conditions of detention of political opponents and the treatment reserved for them.
Salomon Idi Kalonda was arrested on May 30 at N’djili airport and has since been detained in Ndolo military prison. The charges against him are serious, including treason in time of war, incitement of soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty and discipline, as well as breach of national defense secrecy. These accusations raise questions about the objectivity and legitimacy of these charges.
During the first hearing to present the charges on August 17, the accusations were presented, including in particular supposed contacts with the M23 rebellion and Rwandan officials with the aim of overthrowing the regime in place in the DRC. However, the charge of illegal possession of firearms and munitions of war was not pursued, casting doubt on the strength of the case.
While we hope for a favorable outcome for Salomon Idi Kalonda, it is important to emphasize the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law in all legal proceedings, particularly when it comes to political opponents. The deterioration of Salomon Idi Kalonda’s health highlights the need to guarantee dignified conditions of detention and the right to appropriate medical care.
As a society, it is essential to ensure that everyone’s fundamental rights are respected, regardless of their political affiliation. Political opponents play an important role in democracy as a critical and alternative voice, and ensuring their safety and well-being is paramount.
As we closely monitor developments in the situation of Salomon Idi Kalonda, we must also commit to promoting the values of justice, freedom and respect for human rights, particularly for those who risk their freedom to defend their beliefs policies.