Kabila Begins His Campaign of Terror Ahead of December Polls

DRC’s President Joseph Kabila has dispatched military personnel and local police across the country ahead of the December elections. Commentators believe this is the beginning of a carefully constructed campaign of terror designed to win him an illegal third term as president come December 23.

Kabila has already illegally extended his stay in office for an additional two years and all indications suggest he will do whatever he can to stay in power.

In Lubumbashi – the second largest city – police officers and military personnel were dispatched to quell a simmering resistance and have since imposed a curfew and are terrorizing residents.

Authorities claim the hundreds of police officers of the Brigade of the National Legion of Intervention (LENI) were dispatched to prevent crime and maintain peace and order.

In Lubumbashi’s Matshipisha and Kisanga neighbourhoods, residents fear police will start killing them.

“They will stop at nothing to rob us, beat us, and mistreat us,” one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal says.

“The policemen placed at the Matshipisha and Golden Mill level in Kisanga district are spreading terror.

A resident of Matshipisha said the outbreak of security forces had nothing to do with crime but politics.

“This is terrorism sponsored by the government. We know elections are coming; Katanga people have made it very clear. It’s time for Kabila to go,” the residents added.