The Democratic Republic of Congo: Suppressing Dissent Through Brutal Force

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peaceful Protests Violently Repressed

Introduction

On May 20, 2023, police violently dispersed peaceful protesters in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arresting dozens and seriously injuring at least 30. The government’s response to these events has been a cause for concern as Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi publicly praised the police chief for overseeing the violent repression of protestors. Therefore, Congolese authorities should respect and uphold the right to peaceful protest and direct security forces to abide by the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

The Crackdown

The march was announced on May 12 by a coalition of opposition political parties including Martin Fayulu of Commitment to Citizenship and Development (Ecide), Moise Katumbi of Together for the Republic, and Delly Sesanga of Set of Volunteers for the Recovery of the DRC (Envol). The march was intended to denounce the high cost of living, the opacity of the electoral process, and the persistent insecurity in eastern Congo. However, the police brutally repressed the protestors who resisted arrest and this led to a five-hour detention for some activists as reported by Bienvenu Matumo, an activist and member of the citizen movement La Lucha.

According to Human Rights Watch, videos that went viral on social networks, show police officers alongside people in civilian clothes beating peaceful demonstrators, including a child, with wooden sticks. The Congolese police’s brutality against protestors is an attempt to silence dissent and deter future demonstrations. The government’s response to these events has been raising concerns as Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi publicly congratulated the police chief who oversaw the police operations, in which police beat protestors in Ngaba district and dispersed them with tear gas.

Concerns About the Government’s Response

Tshisekedi’s comments raise concerns that the police investigation into the violence will not be impartial and that the government is encouraging excessive use of force by the police in future demonstrations. Moreover, the governor of Kinshasa, Gentiny Ngobila, claimed that the protestors did not abide by the government’s rules and failed to follow the authorized itinerary for their demonstration, and that he would file a complaint against the organizers of the march for alleged acts of vandalism by political party militants. However, this statement has been met with skepticism as most of the protestors were peacefully expressing their demands.

Advice and Conclusion

The Congolese government is obligated under the constitution and international human rights law to respect and uphold the right to peaceful protest. Congolese authorities should direct security forces to abide by the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. The government should take all necessary steps to ensure that everyone can peacefully express their views without fear of being arrested or beaten by the security forces as the DRC is preparing for elections later this year.

In conclusion, the government needs to uphold the principles of freedom of speech and respect human rights to ensure that all voices are heard. The DRC should embrace democracy and peaceful protests instead of silencing its people by brutally repressing them. The international community should also condemn the Congolese government’s response and seek ways to support democracy in the county.

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