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🇨🇩 DR Congo /Culture & Society

DRC authorities reimpose ban on public protests in Kinshasa's Gombe commune

From Radio Okapi · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Congolese authorities have reinstated a ban on public demonstrations in the Gombe commune of Kinshasa.
  • The Gombe commune is designated as a neutral zone for security reasons.
  • The decision comes as a coalition plans a march on July 8th, calling for the president's resignation.

Congolese authorities have reasserted a ban on public demonstrations within the Gombe commune of Kinshasa, a district designated as a neutral zone. The Minister of Human Rights, Samuel Mbemba, announced this measure on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, following a meeting with representatives from the ruling party, opposition, and civil society.

Mbemba emphasized the government's commitment to upholding freedom of expression and assembly, provided these rights are exercised within legal boundaries and do not incite violence or cause material damage. "The government guarantees freedom of expression, but it should not be synonymous with insults," he stated. "We have confirmed that the freedom to demonstrate, according to the law, is also guaranteed. Therefore, all measures are being taken so that if there are demonstrations, provided they are truly peaceful, they will be managed."

The government guarantees freedom of expression, but it should not be synonymous with insults. We have confirmed that the freedom to demonstrate, according to the law, is also guaranteed. Therefore, all measures are being taken so that if there are demonstrations, provided they are truly peaceful, they will be managed.

— Samuel MbembaThe Minister of Human Rights explaining the government's stance on public demonstrations.

He reiterated that Gombe's status as a neutral zone necessitates that any planned demonstrations must not be acts of provocation. This clarification comes as the Coalition Article 64, which advocates for the president's resignation, has announced plans for a nationwide peaceful march on July 8, 2026, culminating at the presidential palace in Gombe.

This measure echoes a previous announcement by the Congolese National Police (PNC) on July 10, 2024, which also prohibited public gatherings in Gombe as a strategy to curb insecurity in the capital. Similar restrictions were reinforced after a series of violent protests in January 2025 that targeted several foreign diplomatic missions in Kinshasa.

demonstrations to be organized must not be acts of provocation because going into a zone declared neutral for a long time is equivalent to provocation.

— Samuel MbembaMinister Mbemba explaining the rationale behind the ban in the Gombe commune.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Radio Okapi in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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