In a troubling turn of events, seven youth activists were reportedly abducted by suspected agents of the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) during a peaceful rally in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, according to the youth group LUCHA.
The activists, including four members of LUCHA, were forcefully taken into custody by plainclothes agents and transported to an undisclosed location.
The incident occurred in the capital, Kinshasa, during a rally organized by LUCHA to draw attention to the security crisis unfolding in the eastern part of the country.
Despite these serious allegations, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidency, which oversees the ANR, directed inquiries to the ANR itself. However, at the time of reporting, the ANR had not responded to requests for comment.
LUCHA expressed deep concern for the safety and well-being of its members in a statement on Sunday, urging authorities to release the detained activists immediately. The group criticized the government, suggesting that security services focus on addressing the ongoing issues in eastern Congo rather than engaging in abductions in Kinshasa.
A government source informed Reuters that the detained activists would be questioned on Sunday. However, the source could not clarify the reasons behind their detention, stating, “For the moment, we do not know what they are accused of.”
The rally on Saturday aimed to mark the 600 days of the strategic eastern border town of Bunagana being occupied by Tutsi-led M23 rebels. The M23’s renewed offensives since 2022 have led to mass displacements and further exacerbated the region’s long-standing security and humanitarian crisis.
Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights (ASADHO), criticized the government’s actions on social media, questioning its priorities.
“While we are concerned about the M23’s advance, the ANR continues to arrest activists protesting the occupation … Are you with the enemy or with the Congolese people?,” he remarked, concluding with, “Shame on you.”
The reported abduction adds to the growing concerns raised by rights groups and critics who accuse President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration of suppressing dissent and limiting freedom of expression.
The presidency and the government consistently deny such allegations, heightening tensions over the state of human rights and democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
