Moïse Katumbi, presidential candidate for December 2023, sees one of his advisers, Salomon Kalonda, imprisoned since May 30 for “undermining state security”. However, according to Kalonda’s defenders, this accusation is false and “trumped up”. The politician is accused of having illegally possessed a 9mm handgun during the suppressed demonstrations of May 20, as well as having links with M23/RDF officers and Rwandan representatives. The Congolese authorities believe that the objective of these contacts would have been to overthrow Félix Tshisekedi to place a Katangese national. The arrest of Kalonda, close to Moïse Katumbi for more than 20 years, aims to weaken the latter and is worrying for opponents, who are increasingly mistreated as the presidential election approaches.
Imprisonment of Salomon Kalonda: a political maneuver to weaken the candidacy of Moïse Katumbi for the presidential election in the DRC
