On this day of June 4, the Democratic Republic of Congo commemorates the students who stood up to demand freedom, at a certain time in its history. It was June 4, 1969, nine years after the country’s independence, two years after the establishment of the single party and four years after the 1965 coup. Students from Lovanium University, ISP Gombe , INBTP, IPN, INA and other higher institutes in Kinshasa, grouped together, girls and boys, raised their voices to demand Africanization and freedom while fighting the dictatorship that reigned then.
54 years after this sad event, we still think of these freedom fighters who have been forgotten by the history of the DRC. In memory of Mwamba Symphorien, this committed young student and formidable actor on stage, who was one of the first to fight against the dictatorship, families and universities are still in mourning.
In this current period, the news of the DRC is very rich and varied. Production sharing contracts in the oil industry are adopted to stimulate the economy, while Algerian football makes Algeria a part of African sports history. BRICS foreign ministers reaffirm their call for UN reform in South Africa. The 9th Francophone Games in Kinshasa are also being prepared.
However, tension is growing around the DRC elections, with increased police repression and risks of internet shutdowns, as the opposition fights for an impartial CENI. Furthermore, the arrest of Salomon Kalonda raises concerns about the approach of the elections.
The city of Kinshasa as well as some neighborhoods are also affected by infrastructure problems, with degraded roads in some places. And to top it off, a civil society leader was assassinated in the province of Beni, a fact that endangers security in the region.
In short, the news of the DRC is rich in events, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. It is important to remember the painful history of our country, but also to focus on the current challenges to make the nation prosper