Five Pro-Democracy Activists in Goma living in fear because of their demonstration against MONUSCO
Threats towards Pro-Democracy Pressure Groups Activists in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo a day after their demonstration in Goma.
On Monday September 2nd, 2024 the Coordination of Pro-Democracy Pressure Groups in Goma called for public demonstrations against the deployment of Kenyan Troops to support the United Nations Peacekeepers in North Kivu. For the pressure groups as it is for the entire population the United Nations Mission in North Kivu should leave but not to be strengthened. The demonstrations which turned violent in some places of Goma happened also on the same day when the Government was planning for an official burial of 200 dead bodies of IDPs around Goma.
Souzy Kisuki of Veranda Mutshanga Pressure Group arrested on Tuesday September 2nd, 2024.
In the morning as Souzy was already at her workplace called Birere where she sells things, two men riding a Motorcycle came and arrested her to unknown place, they claimed to be agents of intelligence services according to witnesses. They took her to T2 Intelligence Services according to information, she was then taken to the Governor and after she was released in the evening on the same Tuesday. According to information she was questioned about her video on Social Media where she criticized the government about the dead of innocent civilians.
Five other Activists members of different pressure groups are also living in fear of possible arrests as allegations indicate that they are being also hunted among them: Felicien, Nadia, Moise, and others.
Challenges to oppose the UN Mission in DRC
It appears more and more a challenge to oppose the existing of the United Nations Mission in DRC, last year demonstrations against MONUSCO ended in bloodshed, few months later a religious group which also opposed the UN Mission ended in bloodshed despite the fact that they were nonviolent. This time we observe again that those who are opposed to MONUSCO are now being arrested and others living in difficult situations because MONUSCO exercises pressure on DRC Government to deal with the critical voices and in the process the intelligence services, the army and police are mobilized to threaten and attack activists who are holding in different view.
While oppression is considered as the only response towards critical voices, we have not yet observed efforts aiming at the promotion of dialogue and other forms of civic engagement which can result at a consensus on issues that oppose people.
