DRC: UNC and South Kivu rally after Vital Kamerhe's arrest

Text by: RFI Follow

The director of cabinet of the Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi was imprisoned, Wednesday April 8, for facts relating to the management of the funds of the "100 days program" of the president. His incarceration created turmoil in his party as well as in South Kivu, where one suspects a political obstinacy.

Publicity

There was no protest demonstration this Thursday, April 9 in the morning in Kinshasa, but an important security device had been deployed in front of the provincial headquarters of the UNC, located in one of the capital's red light districts: van of police, three pick-ups and around fifty police officers.

To better check the area, the police even made use of a drone which flew over the avenue of education in order to detect the gatherings of the supporters of Vital Kamerhe, described our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa .

Demonstrations in the fiefdom of Vital Kamerhe

In the center of Walungu - homeland of Vital Kamerhe in South Kivu - on the other hand, there were several dozen, mostly young people, who took to the streets to protest against the arrest of the local child , recounts our correspondent in DRC, Mitima Delachance . They consider what happened Wednesday in Kinshasa as a relentlessness and denounce what they describe as " politicization " of Congolese justice.

Some burned tires, while others erected barriers using tree trunks in several places on National Road 2 between Bukavu and Walungu. Traffic was disrupted on this road until noon before the demonstrators were dispersed by the police with tear gas a few hours after the demonstration.

Police also dispersed some UNC activists, again using tear gas, this Thursday in Bukavu. UNC / South Kivu executives deplore some minor injuries and the arrest of around ten demonstrators.

Doubt on the survival of the Cach coalition

None of them showed up at headquarters. But behind the scenes, they rant, talking about conspiracy and arbitrary arrest. The director of cabinet was retained for confrontations, “ as if in view of his responsibilities, he was going to flee! “Is indignant one of these executives. The deputies of his party intend to visit him in his cell this Thursday afternoon.

The deputies of the Union for the Congolese Nation express their great desolation following the humiliation which their national president has just undergone.

Statement by the deputies of the UNC

Sonia Rolley

The party's senior political leadership and members of the government from the Kamerhe camp are planning a meeting, also this Thursday, to analyze the situation and make a more firm statement. But already in the ranks of the political party, one questions the survival of the Cach, the presidential coalition of which the UNC is part.

No hearing scheduled

The detention of Felix Tshisekedi's main ally took place in a particular climate. Due to the confinement of " certain regions ", the first president of the Court of Cassation announced, in a press release, the " bulk referral of all cases under investigation " until the end of the state of 'emergency. A minimum service is decreed in the courts and tribunals of the country.

According to several lawyers interviewed by RFI, this should not have an impact on whether or not Vital Kamerhe remains in detention. No hearing is also scheduled for this Thursday, according to judicial sources. At the beginning of the afternoon, the investigating magistrate was at his office, saying that the investigation of the file was continuing.

►Also read: DRC: the “100 days program”, from major works to the detention of Vital Kamerhe

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