Security forces accused of mistreating civilians

A Kinshasa-based human rights organisation, la Voix des sans voix (VSV) has accused the security forces of abusing and mistreating people stopped at curfew time in the DRC capital, Reuters reported. The VSV called for an independent enquiry into the killing of a student at a roadblock last week. “Confronted by severe problems of survival, the population is increasingly at the mercy of the bad behaviour of soldiers and police,” the VSV statement said. It denounced the imposition of a curfew at a time of severe economic problems. Fuel shortages had led to transport problems, which meant many people were unable to get home before the curfew, it noted. The government slapped the 2100-0600 curfew on the capital, claiming “rebel infiltrators” were planning an attack.

The VSV also announced that the leader of a minor opposition party was arrested at his home in Kinshasa on Friday. Christian Badibangi of the Union socialiste congolaise (USC) was led away by police and his whereabouts were unknown.