As the Democratic Republic of Congo seeks a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, hundreds of political opponents and NGO activists demonstrated in Kinshasa on Wednesday, September 25, to demand the release of those they consider “political prisoners and prisoners of conscience” and to denounce the shrinking democratic space in the country.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
The first mobilization of the opposition and civil society since last December’s presidential election took place on Wednesday, September 25 in DRCIn Kinshasa, hundreds of people gathered in front of the capital’s courthouse, which houses the office of the man behind the release of prisoners from the country’s prisons, to hand him a memorandum.
Dressed to the nines, this protester brandishes a flag of the Alliance for Change (APC), the party of Jean-Marc Kabund, imprisoned for two years. ” Recently we have seen the Minister of Justice releasing prisoners who are “kulunas” – thieves – so why are our politicians still incarcerated? ” he asks.
“Who will put safeguards on this regime?”
In front of the Minister of Justice, Constant Mutamba, who came out of his office to receive the document from the protesters, the deputy leader of the APC, Antoinette Bilali, said, looking him straight in the eye: ” If opponents are imprisoned and convicted, who will put safeguards on this regime? Those who hold the truth will not reveal it because they are afraid. So that is why we are here: to demand that if there is any justice in our country, all political opponents be released. ” Still facing the minister, this activist shouts his anger: ” Today, the justice we fought for stands against us. Friends of the struggle, have you forgotten them, friends of the struggle, Your Excellency? Let them be freed! “.
“A total tension in the socio-political atmosphere in the DRC”
On the civil society side, Christopher Muyisa, an activist of the Filimbi movement, says he is stunned and points the finger at the presidential party. We are very surprised to see that after having fought for democracy for a long time, the UDPS is transforming itself into an instrument of systematic repression of activists, opponents and journalists. ” he gets carried away.
Merveilles Kasongo is an activist for the Lucha movement, which has mobilized its troops for the occasion. He deplores “ a total tension in the socio-political atmosphere [en RDC] which is characterized by muzzling, arbitrary arrests and forced exile. Enough is enough, he continuesWhat we are witnessing today is only the first phase of a mobilization that we will continue with large-scale demonstrations in all the cities of the country. “.
Constant Mutamba promises protesters a review meticulous » of their memorandum
In their memorandum, the protesters cite several emblematic prisoners whom they wish to see freed, such as Jean-Marc Kabund, Seth Kikuni, Mike Mukebayi or Daniel Safu, but also three activists from the citizens’ movements in Goma. They are also demanding justice for the opponent Jacky Ndala who says he was raped while incommunicado, or for Cherubin Okende found dead last year.
Without commenting, the Minister of Justice received the memorandum, promising the protesters a review ” meticulous » of their demands and grievances.
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