The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently facing a critical economic and social situation, having significant consequences on the daily life of the population. This is denounced by the Front Commun pour le Congo (FCC), an opposition platform which recently expressed its concern over the dizzying fall of the Congolese franc. This drastic drop has had the effect of soaring the prices of basic necessities, further reducing the purchasing power of the Congolese, which is already very weak.
This situation is considered the worst in the country’s history, according to officials from the political family of Honorary President Joseph Kabila. In addition to the economic crisis, the Front Commun pour le Congo also denounced the chaotic social situation in the DRC, characterized by cases of embezzlement of public funds, illegal enrichment and corruption. Pro-Kabila political actors have also castigated the instrumentalization of the judiciary by the Tshisekedi regime, accentuating legal insecurity in the country.
Added to this is the repeated violation of fundamental human rights in the DRC, as well as the rights of the press, the opposition and civil society. The FCC condemned the acts of repression perpetrated by the Congolese National Police against demonstrators during the march organized on May 20 by the opposition bloc, formed by Martin Fayulu, Matata Ponyo, Moïse Katumbi and Delly Sesanga. This peaceful demonstration had aroused a general outcry, the government, the political parties, the citizens’ movements and the international community having denounced the disproportionate use of force against the demonstrators.
Faced with this situation, the Front Commun pour le Congo calls on the international community to be impartial by sanctioning the sponsors and executors of these violations and the pro-Kabila political actors are asking for urgent measures to get the country out of this economic and social impasse. Despite the security challenges facing the DRC, President Tshisekedi is committed to development, but the results are slow to be felt. The recent rise of 0.6% of the Congolese franc on the official foreign exchange market is an encouraging sign.
In short, the DRC is facing many economic, social and security challenges, but President Tshisekedi’s commitment to the country’s development and the incessant calls from the opposition as well as pro-Kabila political actors for strong measures to get the country out of this economic impasse are signs of hope for the future of Congo