DRC Opposition Accused of Recruiting Militias for Insurrection During Protest

Kinshasa is gripped by political tension following a opposition sit-in protest against constitutional revision, with accusations flying between ruling party officials and opposition leaders. Augustin Kabuya, secretary-general of the UDPS and interim party president, directly accused opposition groups, specifically the Dynamique C64, of recruiting "Mobondo" militiamen to fuel insurrection in the capital.

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recruited Mobondo militiamen to incite insurrection

Kabuya made these allegations during a Sunday meeting at the UDPS headquarters in Limete, framing the opposition's actions as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country. He asserted that these alleged recruitments justified the vigilance of law enforcement agencies during the protest. This narrative, however, is sharply contested by the opposition.

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grave attack on democratic rights

The Party of the People for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), led by former President Joseph Kabila, condemned the government's response to the sit-in, denouncing it as a "grave attack on democratic rights." Meanwhile, Le Phare criticized Kabila himself, labeling him the "primary opponent of the Constitution" and suggesting his calls against revision were hypocritical, aimed at retaliating against his successor, Félix Tshisekedi.

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first opponent of the Constitution

The escalating political climate has drawn international attention. The European Union has voiced its "grave concern" over the violence and called on Congolese authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine responsibility. Belgium has acknowledged the announcement of an official inquiry into the events.

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make every effort to shed light on these acts of violence