Human Rights Watch has criticized the violent crackdown by police on peaceful protesters in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, on May 20, 2023. The police arrested dozens of people and seriously injured at least 30 protesters, while the Congolese government announced that it had launched an investigation into the violence. However, two days later, President Felix Tshisekedi congratulated the police chief responsible for overseeing the operation, raising concerns over the impartiality of the proposed investigation.
On May 12, a coalition of opposition political parties had announced a peaceful march to protest against the high cost of living, the electoral process, and the insecurity in eastern Congo. Participants included Martin Fayulu of Commitment to Citizenship and Development (ECIDE), Moise Katumbi of Together for the Republic, Matata Ponyo of Leadership and Governance for Development (LGD), and Delly Sesanga of Set of Volunteers for the Recovery of the DRC (ENVOL).
Several videos showing police officers alongside civilians beating peaceful demonstrators, including a child, with wooden sticks have gone viral on social media. In response to the police violence, some protesters threw stones and other projectiles at the officers. The Kinshasa provincial police commissioner stated that 30 police officers and 20 protesters had been injured during the ordeal, while 20 demonstrators had been arrested for vandalizing a police bureau.
Minister of Human Rights, Albert Fabrice Puela, condemned the violence in a statement and called for an urgent investigation, alongside civil society groups, the European Union, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO), the US Embassy, and the Roman Catholic Church, all of which condemned the brutal crackdown and called on the Congolese government to respect civil liberties in the election lead-up.
As Congo prepares for the December 2023 elections, Human Rights Watch has called on the government to uphold the right to peaceful protest, ensure a credible and impartial investigation, and “take all necessary steps to ensure that everyone is able to peacefully express their views without fear of being arrested or beaten by the security forces.”
