Kinshasa is currently in turmoil, following the presence of elements of the city police near the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). Since early this morning, the Boulevard du 30 juin in the commune of Gombe, where the CENI headquarters is located, has also been blocked by police vehicles. Access roads are controlled by police officers, while employees and students must justify their presence by presenting an identification card.
Why all this deployment? According to some sources, the opposition plans to carry out a sit-in in front of the CENI premises to demand the organization of credible and transparent elections. Many voices are raised against the management of voter registration, which could indeed cause delays in the electoral process and even jeopardize their credibility.
However, if the opposition wishes to demonstrate peacefully, it is difficult not to focus on the large police presence. The recent blunders at previous protests have no doubt alarmed the authorities and prompted the police to take drastic action. But it is important to remember that the freedom to demonstrate is a fundamental right, and that the police should work to ensure the safety of protesters rather than to prevent any form of protest.
It is also important to note that the situation in the DRC is extremely complex. Political tensions are still present, especially since the controversial election of President Tshisekedi. The recent controversial appointments to the key post have also come under heavy criticism.
Overall, there is a need for the government and the police to work together to ensure the safety of citizens and allow for a peaceful protest by the opposition. There is an urgent need for dialogue and trust between different stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible elections in the future.
In the meantime, we will closely follow the evolution of the situation in Kinshasa and we hope that the fundamental rights of citizens will be respected.