The pre-election violence is worrying. A few days before the election in the DRC, several candidates sometimes find themselves involved in security incidents. The organization Human Rights Watch is sounding the alarm.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
A candidate lost his life after being shot during an ambush on Friday on the Beni-Kasindi road. His vehicle was ambushed by armed men. The perpetrators of this attack as well as the motive remain unknown. A revealing episode of the climate a few days before the elections in DRC.
Since the beginning of October, Human Rights Watch says it has recorded clashes across the country between supporters of rival political parties, leading to attacks, sexual violence, and at least one death.
Franck Diongo, presidential candidate, experienced this. The video has circulated widely on social media since Friday. We see Mr. Diongo, a candidate who joined the camp of Moses Katumbi, take refuge in a church. Visibly frightened, he is forced to apologize, in front of the camera, to Felix Tshisekedi by young people claiming to be from the Force of Progress, an association close to the ruling party. Inside the church, the damage was considerable. The building is ransacked.
Another video is at the origin of this altercation. It shows Franck Diongo tearing down posters of other candidates. He explains that it was in retaliation for the destruction of his banners.
Dangerous situation
Human Rights Watch reports other incidents, notably on November 7, when UDPS supporters clashed with those of Moïse Katumbi’s party, in Kasumbalesa, in Haut-Katanga province. Supporters of the opponent ransacked a local UDPS office, while supporters of the presidential party attacked and injured six people, raped at least two women and sexually assaulted three others, according to witnesses, security sources, medical services and the UN, cited by Human Rights Watch. Five police officers were also injured.
Martin Fayulu and other candidates also reported violence on several occasions during the campaign. The NGO therefore calls on the Congolese authorities to act urgently to prevent violence linked to the vote in order to avoid the worsening of a situation already considered dangerous.